October 24, 2005

Venezuela bans poultry imports from Colombia
 

Venezuela has moved to ban poultry imports and poultry products from neighbouring Colombia in response to an outbreak of avian influenza, Venezuelan officials said Friday.

The government has ordered customs in the states bordering Colombian territory to stop the entry of any poultry into Venezuelan soil, the Ministry of Agriculture announced in a statement.

The temporary move will be lifted after the problem has been controlled and pending meetings between both countries, a ministry spokesman said.

Last week, Venezuela said it would restrict poultry imports after the Colombian government confirmed bird flu cases in three farms.

No cases of avian flu have been found so far in Venezuela.