Saudi Arabia resumes import of baby chickens from Jordan

JORDAN - Saudi authorities have lifted their ban on the import of baby chickens from Jordan a month after suspending the purchase of chicks bred in the Kingdom, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Saturday.

"Almost four weeks ago, the Saudi authorities suspended the import of chicks from Jordan for health reasons," Mahmoud Najdawi, the ministry's spokesperson told The Jordan Times.

Saudi Arabia lifted the ban following a visit by a Saudi technical team to inspect poultry farms in the country and get acquainted with the Ministry of Agriculture's measures to prevent the spread of the disease such as a vaccination campaign for the birds, Najdawi added.

The spokesperson said Saudi Arabia will resume importing chicks from five major poultry farms, adding that the ministry sent circulars to border checkpoints to facilitate the smooth flow of refrigerated trucks transporting the baby chickens to Saudi Arabia.

He attributed the Saudi decision to Jordan's success in combating bird flu, after the H5N1 strain of the virus was detected last March in a domestic poultry farm in Ajloun Governorate.

To prevent the disease from spreading, concerned authorities initiated immunisation campaigns and culled thousands of birds after the virus was detected.

Also on Saturday, Najdawi said a delegation from the Saudi agriculture ministry is due to visit the Kingdom soon to examine health procedures in the country on breeding livestock.

Saudi Arabia suspended the import of livestock from Jordan early this year after anthrax fever was detected in cattle from some areas in the country.

To continue reading this article please click here

Source: Middle East North Africa Financial Network

© 5M Enterprises Ltd.
2000 - 2008
No part of this site may be
reproduced without permission

5M Enterprises Ltd., 4 Haywood House, Hydra Business Park, Nether Lane, Sheffield, S35 9ZX, England.

Co. Registration 3332321 - A Benchmark Holdings Ltd. Company