NFU Mutual to offer bird flu insurance cover again
© Tim Scrivener NFU Mutual has agreed to temporarily re-open its insurance cover for bird flu after a second insurer closed its books to new policyholders, leaving many businesses exposed as the UK heads into the high-risk period for the disease.
Farmers Weekly recently reported that NFU Mutual would not be taking on new clients for avian influenza insurance cover from 1 September 2024.
See also: Avian influenza prevention tips and how to handle an outbreak
As avian influenza is a seasonal disease linked to wild bird migration patterns, with the highest risk generally seen from October to March, there was concern that there would be a sudden rush of poultry producers renewing during this period.
But after the industry raised concern, and another avian influenza insurance provider, Apollo, withdrew from the market, NFU Mutual has had a rethink.
It confirmed this week that poultry producers now have until 4 October to take out a policy.
As before, this cover is primarily intended for poultry farmers who have existing business with NFU Mutual.
New policies will run until 15 May 2025 with farmers paying for premiums pro rata.
This, says the company, will allow producers to renew outside of the volatile period for avian influenza.
An NFU Mutual spokesperson said: “To ensure this insurance product is sustainable and viable for customers, both this year and in the future, the policy was open for new business between 1 April and 1 September (2024) and closed in the volatile, high-risk period of October to March.
“However, we have temporarily re-opened this cover to customers who hadn’t taken an avian influenza policy with us, to support poultry farmers affected by Apollo’s removal of cover.”
It said it would work with industry and insurance partners to offer customers financial protection against “this damaging disease”.
Premiums will be set on a case-by-case basis and will take into account the level of risk at a poultry site and broader external factors.