Imports of captive birds from Asia suspended - UK - The European Commission has agreed to suspend all imports of captive and pet birds from nine Asian countries into the EU.

The immediate ban means that captive birds and pet birds from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, China (including Hong Kong), South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam can no longer be imported into the EU. The birds concerned include exotic tropical birds such as parrots, cockatoos, finches, budgerigars, hawks and falcons.

The additional restrictions follow the suspension of poultry meat and poultry products from Thailand into the EU, which was announced last week (January 23 Defra PN 21/04).

Defra has in parallel introduced a ban on the importation of such birds into England.

Animal Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "I support this precautionary approach. The disease has spread quickly in the region and the true extent in affected countries remains uncertain. This brings a risk that the import conditions which protect against disease in captive birds may not be met."

Source: Defra - 29th January 2004