France’s foie gras sector has suffered a setback after highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed on a duck farm in western France.
More than 7,600 Mulard ducks are being culled at a farm in Longué-Jumelles, in the Maine-et-Loire department, following confirmation of an H5N1 outbreak in early September.
Authorities have imposed a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone around the affected holding, with poultry movements restricted and surveillance increased on nearby farms. Farmers have also been urged to maintain strict biosecurity to prevent further spread.
The outbreak is the first reported in France’s commercial poultry sector since the end of the 2025-26 season, according to the French agriculture ministry. The country recorded 125 outbreaks on commercial farms during that season.
The development will be closely watched by France’s foie gras industry, which has invested heavily in vaccination as a strategy to reduce the scale of bird flu losses. Mandatory preventive vaccination of commercial production ducks has been in place since 2023.
Data presented to the World Egg Organisation in July showed that France recorded 121 outbreaks during the 2025-26 season, with 1.7 million birds culled. However, vaccination was credited with limiting the need for wider preventive culling in affected areas.