US poultry products suspended
Namibia has suspended the import and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds and poultry from the United States following an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a strain of bird flu.
The immediate suspension includes live poultry, birds, raw or uncooked poultry products, live ostriches and ostrich products from the US.
Chief veterinary officer in the agriculture ministry, Dr Albertina Shilongo said since the incubation period of the disease is 21 days as set by the World Health Organisation for Animal Health. The suspension takes effect 21 days prior to the date of the start of the event.
“In this case, the event was detected on 7 February and the suspension is therefore effective from 15 January.”
She said consignments containing poultry products packed in their final packaging on or after the date of the start of the suspension will be rejected and sent back to the country of origin or destroyed at the importer’s cost. According to her, a reefer container will be regarded as a containment and will be handled as an entity.
“We will not allow cartons to be sorted according to date of production.”
Shikongo added that all previously issued import and in-transit permits have been cancelled and recalled with immediate effect.
Cooked poultry meat products for commercial purposes may still be imported into Namibia under the veterinary import permit.
The immediate suspension includes live poultry, birds, raw or uncooked poultry products, live ostriches and ostrich products from the US.
Chief veterinary officer in the agriculture ministry, Dr Albertina Shilongo said since the incubation period of the disease is 21 days as set by the World Health Organisation for Animal Health. The suspension takes effect 21 days prior to the date of the start of the event.
“In this case, the event was detected on 7 February and the suspension is therefore effective from 15 January.”
She said consignments containing poultry products packed in their final packaging on or after the date of the start of the suspension will be rejected and sent back to the country of origin or destroyed at the importer’s cost. According to her, a reefer container will be regarded as a containment and will be handled as an entity.
“We will not allow cartons to be sorted according to date of production.”
Shikongo added that all previously issued import and in-transit permits have been cancelled and recalled with immediate effect.
Cooked poultry meat products for commercial purposes may still be imported into Namibia under the veterinary import permit.
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