March 1, 2006

French poultry faces bans in 30 countries 

Some 30 countries--representing 12 percent of French exports--have partially or totally banned poultry products from France, the EU's biggest producer now battling lethal bird flu, the government said Tuesday Feb 28.

The US was among the latest countries to restrict French products, banning poultry and live bird shipments from the Ain region of southeast France where H5N1 bird flu was found on a turkey farm last week.

French farming minister Dominique Bussereau told parliament Tuesday that French diplomats are trying to get countries to reconsider their bans or allow in some poultry products.

The commerce ministry said it could not immediately provide a complete list of the 30 countries, although it added that none are in the European Union. Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea and Croatia are among governments that have imposed restrictions on French poultry products.