China on Wednesday banned the imports of poultry and poultry
products from Germany, the Czech Republic, the State of Virginia of
the United States as well as the imports of swine products from the
Republic of Georgia.
Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration
of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine jointly issued
the public notice on Wednesday, saying both direct and indirect
imports are prohibited due to local outbreak of animal
diseases.
The notice said that recently Germany, the Czech Republic and
some areas of the United States were hit by avian influenza and the
Republic of Georgia by African swine fever. The ban is aimed at
preventing these animal diseases from infecting China, so as to
protect China's animal husbandry industry and ensure public health
of the Chinese.
China ordered the return or destruction of poultry, pigs, wild
boar and related products that had been shipped to China since the
outbreak of relevant animal diseases. No poultry, pigs, wild boars
and related products from the above countries or areas are allowed
to enter the Chinese territory.
If poultry, pigs, wild boars and related products from the
disease-hit countries and areas would be found on ships, boats,
planes, trains or any other transportation vehicle that pass by or
stop over the Chinese territory, they would be destroyed under the
supervision of the General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine, said the notice.
The nation's quality supervision, inspection and quarantine
bodies and animal epidemic prevention organizations at all levels
are urged to watch closely at this issue and act in accordance with
relevant laws, according to the notice.
Georgia reported that outbreaks began at the end of April in 10
regions across the country, and that 20,000 pigs had already been
slaughtered. Georgia only has about half a million pigs, according
to earlier reports.
The State of Virginia of the United States banned all live
poultry sales in July following the discovery of avian flu
antibodies in a flock of 54,000 turkeys on a poultry farm.
According to the world animal health organization, outbreaks of
highly pathogenic avian influenza have been reported in birds in
France, Germany, Bangladesh, and Vietnam this month. Malaysia, the
Czech Republic and Togo have also been fighting outbreaks.
(Xinhua News Agency July 26 2007)
