January 13, 2005

EU Extends Ban On Poultry Imports From Parts Of Asia

The European Union (EU) will extend the import ban on poultry from eight Asian countries, while lifting restrictions on Japan and South Korea.
 
According to the European Commission, the EU's Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health has reviewed the situation with regards to avian influenza in the ten Asian countries.

The Committee agreed to a Commission proposal to lift the restrictions applicable to Japan and South Korea. However, as the EU did not previously import poultry or poultry meat from those two countries, the lifting only applies to pet birds.

The suspension of the imports of all poultry products and pet birds for eight other Asian countries - Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam - has been extended until September 30 2005 as bird flu is either still present in these countries or they cannot be certified as disease-free, the Commission said.

The EU ban was previously applicable until March 31 2005.