February 23, 2004

China Bans Canadian Poultry Imports

China has banned imports of poultry and related products from Canada following the discovery of bird flu in British Columbia.

Birds transported to China from Canada and waiting for quarantine inspection will be returned or destroyed, and those that have been inspected will have to undergo further testing for the bird flu virus, it quoted the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine as saying late on Sunday.

Canadian health officials discovered a case of bird flu in British Columbia last week, but said on Friday it was of the low-risk variety.