September 7, 2006

Restrictions on poultry lifted in EU

With no bird flu outbreaks with the EU's borders in the past few months, all restrictions on the movement of farmed birds have been lifted within the bloc, the European Commission announced Wednesday (Sep 6).

The commission's proposals to partially lift a ban on poultry products from Romania after recent bird flu outbreaks in the country was met with approval at its meeting yesterday.

The regionalised ban in Romania however, would remain until the end of 2006, subject to review.

The EU also approved a vaccination campaign German authorities intend to carry out on three commercial farms over the next two years.

The vaccination, for research purposes only, would form part of a major field study to determine the effects of bird flu vaccines. Poultry used in the research would not be sold on the market.