June 9, 2009

India will selectively ban imports of livestock, including poultry and meat products to protect the territory against the threat AH1N1 and bird flu outbreaks.

In a statement, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said "livestock and livestock products shall be prohibited from all countries in view of avian influenza and AH1N1."

Livestock and livestock products, including domestic and wild birds (excluding poultry and captive birds), unprocessed meat and meat products from avian species, wild birds, and the semen of domestic and wild birds shall not be allowed into the country, it said.

Imports of live poultry, eggs and their products, live pigs, pathological material, and unprocessed feathers from the countries reporting avian influenza have also been prohibited.

Aside from few cases, the AH1N1 outbreak-- which first broke out in Mexico and the US-- as not as massive in India

The World Health Organisation has reported 6,497 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza AH1N1 infection from 33 countries.

According to official estimates, India imported around US$25 million livestock and its products during April-December 2008.