Imports of Poultry from Thailand suspended - UK - The European Commission has suspended imports of all poultry meat and poultry products from Thailand into the EU.

This follows the confirmation of 'avian flu' (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - HPAI) in Thailand.

In parallel Defra has introduced a ban on the import of such poultry meat and meat products into England

Ben Bradshaw, the animal health Minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:

"Avian influenza is a highly contagious poultry disease that can be transmitted to humans by direct contact with live poultry. Imports of live poultry and hatching eggs from Thailand are already prohibited.

"I am very keen to ensure we do everything possible to prevent the disease being introduced into UK poultry flocks via imports of poultry meat. Although we have assessed the risk of importing the virus in meat or meat products as low we cannot take any chances. We have therefore been tracking development of this disease in Southeast Asia very carefully and now that it has been confirmed in Thailand I welcome the swift action taken by the Commission to suspend imports. "

For further information from Defra regarding Avian Influenza, please click here.

Source: Defra - 23rd January 2004