August 30, 2004

Singapore May Lift Poultry Ban Soon
 

Singapore's poultry ban on Malaysia could be lifted around September 12 if no new cases of bird flu are detected in the country.

The Singapore Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority had talks with its Malaysian counterparts Thursday on conditions leading to lifting the ban.

Mandatory World Health Organization guidelines state that a country must wait 21 days to lift the ban, after the country is declared free of disease and no further cases are detected.

After the disease broke out in a farm near the Thai border, Singapore stopped the imports of 120,000 chickens, 20,000 ducks and 2 million eggs from Malaysia on August 18.

"The excellent cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia has facilitated the early review for the resumption of imports," said AVA director Ngiam Tong Tau.