US$200 million lost in poultry meat exports as Netherlands battles bird flu

The recent bird flu outbreaks in poultry farms in the Netherlands, which so far number five with the first incidence recorded on November 15, has cost that country's poultry sector US$100 million to US$200 million in poultry export losses, a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agricultural Service said.

The GAIN report said at least 231,000 chickens on four farms were infected with H5N8 bird flu and culled following EU guidelines. A fifth farm has also culled its 8,000 ducks on November 22 as a precautionary measure. 

The Dutch government is investigating the source of the outbreaks, and a test on 1,500 wild birds did not detect the H5N8 virus. The highly pathogenic virus was found, however, in two samples of droppings of the wild duck species widgeon last December 1. The virus was of the type H5, with the N type not yet known. The virus was introduced separately, most likely from migrating birds, according to research made by the Central Veterinarian Institute and the Wageningen University and Research Centre.

The Dutch government was to lift restricted transport of birds, eggs and manure n Thursday, December 4, except in region A, where most bird-flu cases were located, and in the 10-kilometre zones. Owners of commercial birds throughout the country are still obliged to keep them indoors, the report said.

The report said the Dutch government has made funds available to help affected farms recover their losses. Disbursements will be made by the Dutch Animal Health Fund, although funds will come from the Dutch government itself and the European Union.

The report said the value added income of the Dutch poultry sector and egg sector is estimated at US$1 billion and $0.85 billion in 2014, respectively. About 2,000 Dutch businesses, with more than 100 million chickens, export more than 6 billion eggs a year.

Netherlands' poultry meat and egg exports so far this year are estimated to have reached US$2.43 billion and $0.84 billion, respectively.

A few countries have officially banned Dutch poultry including Hong Kong, South Korea, Ukraine  and South Africa. In 2013, Hong Kong imported US$31 million worth from the Netherlands; South Korea; Ukraine, US$4 million worth; and, South Africa, US$89 million, according to the USDA's GAIN report.