Britain has announced it is to set up a 2,500 square km 'wild bird risk area' in Scotland in response to the discovery of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in a swan.
It said it had ordered poultry farmers within this area to keep their flocks indoors.
There are 175 poultry centres in the zone and some 3.1 million birds, of which 260,000 are said to be free range.
It is the UK's first case of the strain in a wild bird and it is now the 14th country in the EU to find the H5N1 virus.
It was found more than a week ago on a harbour slipway in the coastal village in Fife.
The Chief Veterinary Officer in Scotland, Charles Milne, has defended its programme on detecting and monitoring the bird flu virus. Mr Milne says proper procedures were followed.
A 3km protection zone has been put in place around Cellardyke Harbour in Fife, where the bird was found.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, said the development had heightened the risk to Ireland but said a contingency plan is fully prepared by her department.
The minister stressed that there is no risk from eating poultry, when it is fully cooked.
The IFA said poultry producers are particularly vigilant at the moment to protect the health of their flocks.
