June 22, 2004

Singapore Lifts Poultry Ban From Netherlands, All US States Except Texas

Singapore said on Tuesday it has lifted a ban on poultry imports from the Netherlands and all US states except Texas after outbreaks of bird flu.

A ban on the import of pet birds from Taiwan has also been lifted, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said in a statement.

"AVA has assessed and is satisfied that the regions have in place effective surveillance programs for detecting bird flu, as well as effective systems for containing and eradicating any outbreaks," the statement said

Texas was fighting its second outbreak of avian influenza, and thousands of chickens have been destroyed earlier this month.

Poultry imports from Taiwan, the Netherlands and the United States were suspended earlier this year after outbreaks of avian influenza.

Bird flu hit several Asian countries earlier this year, killing or leading to the slaughter of about 100 million birds. At least 24 people died of the virus in Vietnam and Thailand.