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30/01/2004
'Bird flu' fears sees EU ban on bird imports
Following public concerns over the outbreak of bird flu in southeast Asia, the European Commission has agreed to suspend all imports of captive and pet birds from nine Asian countries into the EU.
The immediate ban means that captive birds and pet birds from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, China (including Hong Kong), South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam can no longer be imported into the EU. The birds concerned include exotic tropical birds such as parrots, cockatoos, finches, budgerigars, hawks and falcons.
The European Commission's statistics show that in 2003 about 100,000 ornamental birds (mainly parrots, cockatoos and budgerigars from Pakistan, China and Indonesia) have been imported into the EU from the countries now blocked. Defra statistics show that since 2000 less than 20 captive birds (namely eagles and falcons) have been imported directly into the UK from the countries concerned.
The additional restrictions follow the suspension of poultry meat and poultry products, including hatching eggs, from Thailand into the EU, which was announced last week.
The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs has in parallel introduced a ban on the importation of such birds into England.
Animal Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "I support this precautionary approach. The disease has spread quickly in the region and the true extent in affected countries remains uncertain. This brings a risk that the import conditions which protect against disease in captive birds may not be met."
Avian influenza, so-called bird flu, is highly contagious, causing widespread fatality in poultry and other susceptible birds. The disease can also spread to humans via close contact with infected live poultry – it is known that 10 people have so far died from the disease.
The are exceptions to the ban: Imports of poultry meat and products from Thai birds slaughtered before January 1, 2004 can still be imported provided they are accompanied by official health certification confirming this; and products produced at any time that have been heat-treated can be imported.
(gmcg)
The immediate ban means that captive birds and pet birds from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, China (including Hong Kong), South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam can no longer be imported into the EU. The birds concerned include exotic tropical birds such as parrots, cockatoos, finches, budgerigars, hawks and falcons.
The European Commission's statistics show that in 2003 about 100,000 ornamental birds (mainly parrots, cockatoos and budgerigars from Pakistan, China and Indonesia) have been imported into the EU from the countries now blocked. Defra statistics show that since 2000 less than 20 captive birds (namely eagles and falcons) have been imported directly into the UK from the countries concerned.
The additional restrictions follow the suspension of poultry meat and poultry products, including hatching eggs, from Thailand into the EU, which was announced last week.
The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs has in parallel introduced a ban on the importation of such birds into England.
Animal Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "I support this precautionary approach. The disease has spread quickly in the region and the true extent in affected countries remains uncertain. This brings a risk that the import conditions which protect against disease in captive birds may not be met."
Avian influenza, so-called bird flu, is highly contagious, causing widespread fatality in poultry and other susceptible birds. The disease can also spread to humans via close contact with infected live poultry – it is known that 10 people have so far died from the disease.
The are exceptions to the ban: Imports of poultry meat and products from Thai birds slaughtered before January 1, 2004 can still be imported provided they are accompanied by official health certification confirming this; and products produced at any time that have been heat-treated can be imported.
(gmcg)
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