May 17, 2006

EU extends ban on Romanian poultry imports

New outbreaks of bird flu in Romania Tuesday (May 16) prompted the European Union to extend a ban on Romanian poultry and poultry products until the end of the year.

A panel of veterinary experts representing EU member states agreed on a poultry import ban that will cover Brasov county and the surrounding counties of Covasna, Harghita, Mures and Sibiu in central Romania.

The decision follows the discovery on Brasov poultry farms last weekend of several confirmed cases and further suspected cases of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.

The import ban will stay in place until Dec 31, subject to review.

"This new outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu in a European country underlines the importance of remaining vigilant," the European Commission said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in a bid to tighten anti-bird flu measures, Romania's Agriculture Minister Gheorghe Flutur said that veterinary services officials who allowed a chicken farm to continue operating after the H5N1 bird flu virus was detected there will be dismissed and prosecuted.

The agriculture minister said the farm--which did not have a permit to sell live birds-- should have been shut down promptly for violating health rules.