January 29, 2007

Romania imposes partial ban on Hungarian poultry imports

Romania has imposed a ban on poultry imports from the bird flu affected area in Hungary after the neighbouring country confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus, news agency Mediafax reported Friday (Jan 26), citing Romanian head veterinarian Marian Avram.

Romania banned all imports of poultry from areas within 10 kilometres of the Hungarian region affected by the bird flu virus, but other areas have been exempted from the ban.

"Imports of live fowls and poultry meat from a 10-kilometre radius around the affected area in south-east Hungary have been banned. Companies from other regions in Hungary will be allowed to export poultry to Romania," Avram said.

Romanian authorities have tightened controls on the borders with its neighbour since the news of the outbreak in south-east Hungary was confirmed this week.

Romania, which joined the European Union on Jan 1, 2007, experienced its first outbreak of bird flu in 2005.