Poultry shipments from countries hit by the avian influenza virus will not be permitted to enter South Africa, Charlotte Nkuna, the director of SA Poultry Association's (SAPA) poultry disease management agency, announced.

The suspension will cover live poultry, meat and processed products. It will also include imports, which transit through affected countries like Canada, the UK, Germany and other European states. These countries had culled thousands of birds in response to the bird flu outbreaks.

"As the avian influenza virus survives for a long time in frozen material, the flood of imported frozen poultry products potentially increases the risk to the national flock," said Nkuna. She added that South Africa's department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries has imposed the ban.

Sol Motsepe, a Sapa senior executive, said the ban is likely to stay until the affected countries shall have eliminated the virus or three months after the last reported bird-flu incident.

"Countries then resubmit re-certification applications for exports to South Africa, a lengthy but critical process to ensure South African poultry and our consumers are protected," Motsepe said.

He added that poultry from domestic suppliers are safe for consumption and are able to meet the country's demand.

According to Nkuna, local poultry flocks are tested twice a year for bird flu.