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Listen to this siteSaturday 16 June 2007
Following the outbreak of avian flu in a number of non-European Union (non-EU) countries, poultry and poultry products from affected countries can not be imported to the UK and the rest of the EU. Poultry can include chicken, duck, goose, turkey and guinea fowl and so on.
Following an outbreak of avian influenza in Thailand and several other non-EU countries in Asia in 2005, the European Commission suspended imports of poultry, poultry meat products and eggs. (External) Commission Decision 2004/122/EC set out the products included in the ban but this has now been repealed and replaced by (External) Commission Decision 2005/692/EC (as amended by (External) Commission Decision 2007/99/EC ) because of continuing concerns with outbreaks of avian influenza in the affected Asian countries now including Mongolia. Commission Decision 2005/692/EC measures are set out as follows:
Poultry products from Thailand
The particular products suspended for import from Thailand to the EU include fresh meat from poultry, ostrich (and other ratites – a type of flightless bird) and farmed and wild feathered game, and preparations and products containing meat from these species, and eggs for human consumption. However products obtained from birds slaughtered before 1 January 2004 and accompanied by an official certificate are permitted, as well as meat products consisting of or containing meat from poultry, ratites and game if it has been heat treated to at least 70°C.
Poultry products from China
The particular products suspended for import from China to the EU include fresh meat from poultry, preparations and products containing meat from poultry, and eggs for human consumption.
Poultry products from Malaysia and South Korea
Eggs are not permitted for import from Malaysia and South Korea to the EU.
Back to top(External) Commission Decision 2005/692/EC also suspends the import of live birds other than poultry and unprocessed feathers and parts of feathers from Cambodia, China including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia (except feathers), North Korea, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam and Turkey (see separate (External) Commission Decision 2005/733/EC as amended by (External) Commission 2006/321/EC and (External) Commission 2006/521/EC ). Fresh meat from poultry, meat products and meat preparations, and eggs are also banned from the above countries, but exemptions apply for Thailand, and for Turkey (for pasteurised egg products only) anyway because there are not any approved establishments for the supply of these products to the EU.
Back to top(External) Commission Decision 2006/533/EC suspends the import of:
from all regions in Croatia for which protection measures have formally been put in place, as laid down in (External) Commission Decision 2006/563/EC .
However products obtained from birds slaughtered before 1 August 2005 and accompanied by an official certificate are permitted, as well as meat products consisting of or containing meat from wild feathered game if it has been heat treated to at least 70°C.
Back to topFrom 26 April 2007 new health certification is required for imports of poultry, poultry products, ostrich (and other ratites – a type of flightless bird), ratite products, eggs and egg products from certain non-EU countries. The new certifications can be found in (External) Commission Decision 2006/696/EC on the European Commission website. Previously valid certificates may still be accepted if signed before 26 April 2007.
Back to topOutbreaks of avian flu have been confirmed in a number of EU Member States. Although intracommunity trade of poultry and poultry products continues between EU member states, poultry and poultry products from affected parts of EU countries are restricted to protect animal health. In the affected areas the Commission has instructed national authorities to apply restrictions and controls, including a block on live poultry and birds, meat, hatching eggs and poultry products leaving the areas except under very limited conditions.
Intracommunity trade is where food products can freely move within the EU without border checks although national controls may be set where there are risks to public or animal health.
More information about bird flu can be found on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Department of Health, European Commission and World Health Organization (WHO) websites.
Agency advice on bird flu and food safety for UK consumers can be found in the 'Bird flu update' below.
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