August 17, 2007

China bans poultry, poultry products from Nebraska

China has banned poultry and poultry product imports from Nebraska following an outbreak of bird flu in the midwestern US state.

A turkey flock in one county in Nebraska was tested positive for a mild strain of bird flu in late June.

However, the US Department of Agriculture said no human bird flu cases have ever been traced to eating properly cooked poultry or eggs.

Poultry and poultry products that have been shipped from Nebraska since June 4 must be sent back or destroyed, according to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Thursday.

Products that were shipped before June 4 must be tested before they can enter China, the statement said.

Poultry and poultry products from the US are not allowed to be mailed into China or brought into the country by travellers, it said.