March 23, 2004

EU Extends Ban on U.S. Poultry Imports

The European Union decided on Monday to extend a ban on all U.S. poultry imports until April 23 due to continued concerns over bird flu.

The 15-nation EU joined several other importers last month in banning live birds, eggs, fresh meat and meat products from the United States following the outbreak last month in south-central Texas.

Despite control measures taken by U.S. authorities, the EU said it was unable to limit the ban to products from the affected areas.

"The current disease situation and available information do for the moment not allow a reduction of the protective measures to a confined area," the EU said in a statement.

The situation will be reviewed again by EU veterinary experts March 30.

Health officials say the avian influenza found in Texas is dangerous, but was not the same strain that has killed at least 22 people in Asia.

The EU said last week about a quarter of its imported eggs come from the United States, worth some 20 million euros ($24.5 million) in trade annually. The EU also imports 2.5 million euros ($3 million) worth of day-old chicks, or around 800,000 per year, most of which are turkeys.

U.S. chicken and turkey meat are not imported into the EU due to differences in vaccination policies.

The EU has also banned poultry imports from several Asian nations.