February 12, 2004

Ukraine Suspends Poultry Imports From Delaware

Ukraine has temporarily suspended imports of poultry products from Delaware following the discovery of bird flu on a farm in the eastern U.S. state, an official said Wednesday.

Mykola Patsiuk, deputy head of the veterinary department of Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry, said the ban applies not only to meat and eggs, but to feed and feed additives as well.

Ending an 11-month ban in December, Ukraine began accepting U.S. chicken shipments certified to contain no growth stimulants, hormones or other banned additives.

Before the ban, U.S. producers supplied about 90% of Ukraine's chicken imports.

Ukraine has banned poultry imports from Vietnam, Thailand and several other Asian countries following the outbreak of bird flu.