August 22, 2006

Russia bans Dutch poultry imports on bird flu fears

Russia's veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has imposed a temporary ban on poultry imports from the Netherlands after reports of cases of the H7 strain of bird flu there, the Agriculture Ministry's press office said Monday (Aug 21).

At present only poultry shipped from the Netherlands before Aug 21 is allowed to enter Russian territory, provided it is accompanied by proper certificates.

An official at the ministry confirmed it had received a report of bird flu in the Netherlands, which had caused the announcement to be made.

He said he had no detailed information as to where and when the disease had occurred.

However, Dutch Poultry Association spokesman De van Riet told said there was no bird flu in the Netherlands at the moment.

On Aug 1, the Netherlands reported that it had found traces of H7N7, a mild form of bird flu, during routine testing at a poultry farm in Voorthuizen in the central Netherlands, but that no sick animals were found there.

"We did find the virus in Voorthuizen in the beginning of August, but the situation there is now under control and most measures have been withdrawn," Van Riet said.

The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture could not immediately provide comment.