LANSING — A statewide ban on poultry exhibitions was lifted Wednesday, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

MDARD implemented the ban as a precautionary measure in June 2015 in response to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak happening across the U.S.

MDARD evaluated the disease risk and current national status and decided it’s appropriate to lift the ban on poultry exhibitions. MDARD continues to monitor the national HPAI situation and may reinstate the poultry exhibition ban if the disease re-emerges. Although not limited to the following situations, these are some specific situations in which MDARD would consider reinstating the ban:

1. Detection of HPAI in a wild bird in the Mississippi flyway.

2. Detection of HPAI in domestic flocks in states surrounding Michigan or nearby areas of Canada.

3. Cases of HPAI in wild or domestic birds in other flyways, if the cases appear to be spreading.

The ban prevented the commingling of birds from different locations, including exhibitions, swap meets, petting zoos at fairs, game bird and waterfowl fair displays, and Miracle of Life exhibits.