May 15, 2014
 

EU lifts ban on poultry import from India with condition

The European Union lifted the over five-year ban on imports of poultry meat from India, though it is not without condition.

The European Union Commission said that exporters are required to implement amended model health certificate that will be issued by the Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) for exports of meat products, treated stomachs, bladders and intestines prepared from fresh meat of domestic poultry, including meat of farmed and wild game birds.

A transition period of four months that will last until September 30 has also been set for consignments with the existing health certificate, provided that the certificate was signed before July 30.

In fear of the spread of bird flu, the EU banned import of poultry meat from India over five years ago. As India has taken measures to reduce the repeat of the disease, that fear has diminished.

India currently exports worth Rs500 crore (US$84.05 million) of poultry products, including eggs and processed meat, per year. The EU accounts for 20% to 25% of the market.

Domestic broiler production in India is estimated to have remained flat at 3.5 million tonnes in 2013, with per capita consumption of 2.8kg per annum. Table egg production is estimated to have increased to 70 billion eggs in 2013 from 66 billion in 2012, with per capita consumption at 57 eggs per annum.