The Norwegian Food Safety Authority took the decision after observing that the risk of an H5N1 bird flu pandemic was diminishing, and no areas in Norway were at high risk.

The health authority made a statement that "because of the bird flu situation now ... there are no special demands for the raising of poultry or other birds now."

But if the situation changed, they could re-impose the measures swiftly, the authority added.

The authority imposed the ban in eight southern counties in February to prevent the deadly virus from spreading. But so far, H5N1 bird flu has not been detected in Norway.

The deadly strain has killed more than 120 people worldwide since its outbreak in southeast Asia in late 2003. Most victims were infected after close contact with sick birds.

The virus currently can only jump from birds to people, but scientists fear that it could mutate into a form capable of passing easily among humans and spark a global pandemic.