As of 04/08/2025
Virkon S powder has had its Diseases of Poultry Order registration reinstated.
Usage rate for dsinfecting race baskets for cross channel racing is 1g Virkon S powder in 150ml water or 20g in 3L water.
All the disinfectants registered under the Diseases of Poultry Order can be seen below.
Remember, the certifying Official Veterinary Surgeon will need to know what brand of disinfectant you are using and the rate you have used it at.
Finally and always very important.
- Read the product instructions.
- Measure the amount of product being used.
- Measure the amount of water being used.
- Make sure you are working at the correct concentrations: amount of powder, liquid or tablet to water/
- Wear appropriate protective clothing.
- They may discolour or stain your clothing.
- Handle carefully according to manufacturers instructions.
Assume all concentrated and in use disinfectants are dangerous
They could kill you.
On your skin they may burn you.
In your eyes they may blind you.
Breathing in may cause choking and respiratory damage.
Swallow them can burn, cause ulcers, cause serious gut damage.
As of 03/07/2025
Virkon S, following further tests, has had its General Orders approval reinstated.
It is still NOT APPROVED under the Diseases of Poultry Order. I am sure that it is being re-tested but until approval confirmation is received it cannot be used to disinfect against Newcastle disease, Pigeon paramyxovirus or Avian Influenza.
There are suitable iodine based disinfectants but please remember they usually have a tendency to discolour everything yellow, especially if it was originally white.
As of 27/06/2025
The following list is of all the brands that contain the same active ingredient as Virkon S. I have highlighted in yellow the brands that I have used or have knowledge of.
The usage rate is given in column 3 for the Diseases of Poultry Order ( the dilution rate that will kill Newcastle disease, Avian Influenza and Pigeon Paramyxovirus).
For Example, I am using Bio-VX because it is first on the list.
You will need to add 1 g of Bio-VX powder to 200ml water (5g per litre) to meet with the regulations for cleaning and disinfecting race baskets for racing from the EU.
However, if you want to disinfect your crates against both pigeon paratyphoid and pigeon paramyxovirus. You would need a more concentrated solution.
1g Bio-VX in 85 ml water or 12g in a litre water.