September 14, 2004

Ukraine Lifts Poultry Ban From Texas After Six Months

Ukraine has lifted a ban on poultry products imported from Texas, six months after restricting imports over fears of the highly contagious bird flu, Ukrainian officials said Monday.

The veterinary department at Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry said the ban on live birds, meat, eggs and all poultry byproducts was lifted Sept. 7.

The ban on poultry from two other states, Maryland and Delaware, remains in effect, officials said.

Ukraine ended an 11-month ban on U.S. chicken last December. It then began accepting shipments certified to contain no growth stimulants, hormones or other banned additives. Before the ban, U.S. producers supplied about 90% of Ukraine's chicken imports.

Avian influenza is often fatal for domesticated and wild birds, but is rarely dangerous for humans.

The outbreak of the virus led to the culling of millions of chickens in the U.S. and Western Europe. Poultry producers also suffered millions of dollars in losses.