July 17, 2017

The United Arab Emirates has banned the importation of all kinds of live domestic and live birds, chicks and hatching eggs from Belgium, following a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about the presence of a highly pathogenic avian influenza in that country.

In a statement released to media last week, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said it has also prohibited the import of poultry meat and thermally untreated products and table eggs.

However, it has allowed the continued importation of thermally treated poultry products (treated meat and processed egg products) and thermally treated poultry waste from Belgium.

The Ministry said the prohibition was made to raise the level of food safety and ensure the provision of safe food to the consumer.

It said it is in line with the implementation of the Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on the safety of food, which applies to all establishments licensed to trade food or feed, and consignments coming to the country or passing through its territory.