June 19, 2007

Thailand lifts poultry import ban from three US states

The Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) has lifted the embargo on poultry and poultry products from California, North Carolina and Missouri after a two-year period ban due to a Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) detected on these states.

The lifting of the ban was recommended by the US Deputy Administrator of Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) last May 22 to the Thai Department of Livestock Development (DLD) to which it replied on June 8 and declaring goods and origin of animals from these states are free from Avian Influenza and Newcastle diseases.

The DLD and MOAC has imposed a ban on live poultry and uncooked poultry meat coming from these states in February 2005 due to LPAI despite US' protest that the prohibition was against the guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). OIE regulations state that LPAI is not a justification to disrupt existing poultry trade.