China called on other countries Wednesday to lift import bans on
poultry and poultry products imposed out of fear of the bird
flu.
"We hope that the relevant countries can respect the fact that
China has stamped out HPAI (high pathogenic avian influenza) and
can lift the ban on the import of poultry and poultry products from
China," said Xia Hongmin, director of Department of Animal and
Plant Quarantine Supervision under the General Administration of
Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
Xia made the remarks when briefing diplomats stationed in
Beijing on China's prevention of the HPAI.
China removed the last two quarantined areas -- Nanning in
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Lhasa in the Tibet Autonomous
Region from isolation on Tuesday.
China confirmed its first HPAI case in Dingdang, south China's
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on January 27. By Tuesday, 48
countries and regions had taken measures to stop or restrict the
import of poultry and poultry products from Chinese mainland.
Noting the fact that China has effectively controlled HPAI, Xia
said his administration is willing to work with other countries and
regions to find avenues to resolve the problem.
He also said he hoped for co-operation with countries affected
by the epidemic to resume trade interrupted by HPAI.
"The administration will, as it has always done, seriously
examine products to ensure the safety and quality of poultry and
poultry products exported from China to protect the health of
consumers in various countries," said Xia.
Administration sources said that by Tuesday, 21 countries and
regions have gradually resumed or continued imports of some poultry
products, such as fresh eggs, cooked poultry products and tinned
poultry meat.
Still, while declaring "an initial stage success" in controlling
the HAPI, the officials and experts suggested that monitoring and
preventive measures and cautioning against a relapse of the
epidemic be continued.
According to Jia Youling, chief farming expert at the Ministry
of Agriculture, the migration of birds as the weather warms up, the
fact that the virus can be carried by some aquatic fowl and the
presence of the epidemic in neighboring countries and regions are
all reasons for continued watchfulness.
During a Tuesday conference, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu echoed
those sentiments by saying that the public should still be on high
alert.
Describing HPAI prevention as a long-term and arduous task, Hui
said that the success China has achieved does not mark an end to
prevention.
He called for continued epidemic monitoring and reporting,
enhanced animal quarantine supervision and medical monitoring and
prevention to block the transmission of the disease to human
beings.
Since the confirmation of the first HAPI case, China has
slaughtered nearly 9 million poultry, rendering a heavy blow to the
industry.
(China Daily March 18, 2004)