Leven poultry farmer Daniel Mathison fined £20k over bird flu outbreak

An East Yorkshire poultry farmer has been fined a total of £20,000 following an outbreak of bird flu.

Daniel Mathison, 49, a partner at Mathison (Farmers) Leven, commercially rears and slaughters birds at Southfield Farm in Leven, near Beverley.

The business supplies meat under the brand Yorkshire Ducks and Geese.

On Wednesday, at Beverley Magistrates' Court, Mathison pleaded guilty to four offences relating to the outbreak.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with Food Safety & Hygiene Regulations (England) 2013 by operating as a slaughterhouse without the necessary approval.

What is bird flu and what's behind the outbreak?

The offences relating to the outbreak included:

• Failing to keep ducks, within an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, housed in a suitable building so as to prevent ingress from wild birds
• Failing to keep records of all duck deaths as per an order by the Minister of State
• Failing to comply with a Restriction Notice by removing poultry meat from the premises
• Failing to comply with a Restriction Notice by removing old insulation from the premises

The court heard that government officials visited the farm on 12 April 2023 to investigate a possible bird flu outbreak.

It was confirmed the disease was present in the duck flock the following day, the court heard.

Investigations by East Riding of Yorkshire Council later found slaughtering and meat production activities had expanded beyond the permitted limit, which required FSA approval.

After sentencing, Angela Dearing, the council's director of housing, transportation and public protection, said: "It is highly likely this avian influenza outbreak would not have happened if compulsory housing measures to ensure separation from wild birds had been complied with.

"It is fortunate the outbreak did not spread further when the disease control restrictions were breached."

Ms Dearing said in addition to "catastrophic consequences" for Mathison's business, the measures required to control the outbreak and prevent its spread had "significantly impacted on other local livestock keepers".

In addition to the fines, Mathison was ordered to pay £6,000 costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge. He was given 12 months to pay.

Correction: An earlier version of this article contained incorrect information provided by Beverley Magistrates' Court, which has since been amended.

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