EU bans poultry imports from New York state and Kent, UK due to bird flu cases

Author: Information Bar

The European Commission (EC) has amended the authorization for the entry of poultry and game into the European Union (EU) from Canada, Chile, the United States and the United Kingdom due to cases of bird flu, and has updated the protection and surveillance areas of the Netherlands for the disease.

The United Kingdom and the United States have reported new highly pathogenic avian influenza (GAAP) outbreaks in poultry in Kent, England, and New York state, the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) reported on Monday, respectively.

The European Commission has evaluated this information and decided to suspend the entry of poultry, poultry germ products and fresh meat from poultry and game birds from these areas in order to protect the animal health situation in the EU.

On the other hand, the European Commission re-authorized the importation of these products from the Canadian province of British Columbia, the Chilean metropolitan area and the states of Michigan, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin.USA

The health situation was considered overcome by the European Commission following messages from these countries after outbreaks of bird flu between March and June led to the suspension of poultry imports.

After the bird flu outbreak was reported in the Flevoland province of the Netherlands, the European Union established a new bird flu protection area and monitoring area within the EU framework.

The message detailed that the purpose of the measure is to “prevent any unnecessary disruption of intra-EU trade and prevent unreasonable obstacles to trade being imposed by third countries”.

WHO alert

Authorities have stepped up their vigilance since the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in mid-July that an increase in outbreaks of bird flu among different mammals could help the virus spread between humans.

“Current outbreaks of avian influenza (also known as ‘bird flu’) have wreaked havoc on animal populations, including poultry, wild birds and some mammals. Although animals have been greatly affected, these outbreaks pose a continuing risk to humans, ’ said a statement from the UN health agency.

The World Health Organization joins the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) in urging countries to work together to protect people and animals.

The basis for WHO’s alert is that during 2022, outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in poultry and wild birds have been reported to WOAH by 67 countries on five continents, and more than 131 million poultry have died or died as a result of affected farms and culling. Cull. village.

In 2023, 14 additional countries report outbreaks, mainly in the Americas, as the disease continues to spread. In addition, several mass mortalities in wild birds caused by influenza A(H5N1) 2.3.4.4b viroids have been reported.