August 6, 2020

Jordan denies importing Ukrainian poultry during ban

Jordan's Ministry of Agriculture dismissed reports that it had allowed the importation of poultry products from Ukraine despite a poultry import ban from this county after an H5 avian influenza outbreak, Ammonews reported.

The ministry was responding to reports circulated on social media outlets in the wake of two mass food poisoning incidents in the Balqa governorate where hundreds of people fell ill and two persons died after taking contaminated chicken meals from local restaurants.

The ministry explained that no poultry products from Ukraine have been allowed to enter the Kingdom since January 20th this year after the eastern European nation announced the outbreak of the H5 avian influenza.

The ministry added that even after the World Organization for Animal Health announced Ukraine an H5-free country in early March, no shipments of Ukrainian poultry products have been allowed to enter the Kingdom to date.

During the ban period, the ministry said, no Ukrainian poultry imports were allowed, adding that the last shipment was cleared in December 2019. The ministry urged the public not to disseminate inaccurate information which, it said, disrupts economic activity and harms local producers and markets.

Since Davao City and its neighbouring areas are under the red zone, the entry of such products is strictly prohibited.

Bigot said the pork shipments to other areas is ongoing but some localities in Visayas were already hesitant to buy from the province due to the ASF threat.

She said farms are now required to undergo testing and secure "ASF-free certificates" before shipping out to free zones like the Agusan provinces; Samar, Leyte and Cebu in Visayas; and in Metro Manila.