July 26, 2004

Chinese Poultry Products Held By Saudi Arabia Released

Saudi Arabian authorities gave clearance yesterday for the release of Chinese poultry imports held for months for fear of bird flu contamination.

"The Ministry of Commerce and Industry ordered the release of shipments of poultry meat and products imported from China to the Kingdom's ports and shipped on Jan. 27, before the bird flu outbreak,¡± said a ministry statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabia had slapped a temporary ban on imports of poultry products from Asian countries on Jan. 28 because of the bird flu outbreak.

The statement said that laboratory tests carried out on the poultry products had proved that the consignment was clear of contamination.

The countries affected by the disease that claimed 24 lives and triggered the culling of tens of millions of birds were Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Taiwan and Pakistan had reported weaker strains of the virus.

New outbreaks in poultry have been reported in China, Thailand and Vietnam in recent weeks, raising concerns that the virus may be making a comeback in the region.