A Nationwide Housing Order has been announced to eliminate bird flu.
The restriction means free-range farmers would need to keep birds indoors and restrict the animals' movements.
It comes into effect from next Monday.
It follows an outbreak at Fota Wildlife Park last month, a number of cases in a turkey flock in Carlow, as well as cases in Northern Ireland.
Speaking to Northern Sound today, the IFA's poultry chair Nigel Sweetnam welcomed the news.
Mr. Sweetnam urged farmers not to take any chances in order to keep birds safe.
He said: "The big positive from the housing order is that it prohibits unwarranted entry onto poultry farms from people who don't need to be there.
"It should mean a slow down in inspections, and unnecessary visitors to the farm, that certainly now is a no no.
"The keeping of livestock indoors has to be welcomed, because it reduces the risk of infection.
"While we are waiting for the order to come in, we would urge everyone to be sensible, and take care," he added.
