November 21, 2005

EU allows South African ostrich imports to resume

The EU has allowed South African ostrich imports to resume, after the European Commission was satisfied by a final report from the country that bird flu was completely eradicated there.

South Africa had declared itself free of bird flu in September this year, and earlier sent the report on its animal health situation to the commission, requesting for the import ban to be lifted.

The government said last year's bird flu outbreaks on ostrich farms involved the less virulent H5N2 strain of bird flu, unlike the deadly H5N1 strain that has already claimed dozens of human lives in Asia.