February 12, 2009
Russia bans poultry imports from France province
Russia has banned poultry imports from a French province after a low pathogenic bird flu strain was discovered there, according to the animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor on Wednesday (Feb 11).
The ban applies to live birds, hatching eggs, feathers, poultry meat and feed, and used equipment for keeping and slaughtering birds from the Province of Vendee, said the watchdog.
France exports poultry to Russia within a tariff quota of 253,400 tonnes issued to the whole of the EU for 2009.
The bird flu virus was detected in breeding ducks at a farm in Western France in late January. Around 5,000 birds had been culled to prevent the spreading of the virus.
