The Chinese Minister for Agriculture has announced that a very aggressive strain of H5N1 bird flu has been discovered in Hunan Province. This follows the outbreak of swine fever and the coronavirus. The H5N1 bird flu virus has killed some 4 500 chickens and hens on a farm in Shaoyang, a town in the south‑west of Hunan Province. In an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, the authorities have culled almost 18 000 other birds on the farm and on surrounding farms. The World Health Organization, which on 30 January declared a ‘global emergency’ because of another widespread virus from China – the coronavirus – says that it can be transmitted to humans, although not so easily. Still, 60% of those infected with the virus have died. The impact of the H5N1 virus in humans is therefore not to be ignored. Given that, alongside China, the United States and Brazil, the EU is one of the world’s foremost poultry meat producers, what tools does the Commission have at its disposal to prevent the spread of this type of bird flu?