Sri Lanka halts imports of French chickens

According to it's Animal Production and Health department, Sri Lanka has suspended importing live chicken from France owing to the threat of bird flu.

The Animal Production and Health Department said that chicken imported from France has been suspended following a warning that had been issued by the World Animal Health Organization, due to the spread of bird flu in the country.

GM at the Animal Production and Health Department Dr. Swarna Herath said that following the warning issued by the World Animal Health Org, Sri Lanka had stopped all orders placed for the next 3 months.

"We have been informed that there is a low pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in France. Several wild ducks were found dead in France and the tests confirmed they were killed by H5N1 avian influenza," Herath told reporters.

She said the first case was identified in France on Nov 17. Herath said Sri Lanka will ban importing live chickens or other live animals to the island if there is an outbreak of any animal disease. However, other animal products are allowed to be imported from France.