Charges were filed in Jyväskylä District Court on Wednesday against a couple in Central Finland who allowed their geese out to pasture last spring in spite of a ban on allowing poultry out of doors during the spring migration.
The ban had been imposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as a precaution against avian influenza, or bird flu.
The couple pleaded not guilty to the charge. The man admitted that the geese had been allowed outside in April and May last year, but said that keeping the birds inside would have been impossible. He said that letting them outside was necessary for reasons of animal welfare and a lack of space.
The couple asserted that the court should ask the European Court of Justice for a ruling on the case. However, the district court did not feel that this was necessary.
A decision in the case is expected in a month.
The ban on letting domestic fowl out of doors during bird migration season has been generally observed, says Riitta Maijala of the Finnish Food Safety Authority.
Enforcement is up to municipal and provincial veterinarians. Violations are generally dealt with by advising those in question about the rules. Tougher measures are resorted to only if this is not enough.
This year domestic birds are to be kept inside from the beginning of March through the end of May. The rules have been eased somewhat from last year: under certain circumstances it is permissible to allow birds into fenced-off and roofed outdoor areas.
