The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Commissioner and Secretary Shyam Lal Mewara signed the order to this effect yesterday. The State Government imposed the ban on the import of poultry and poultry products from the rest of the country through two orders on January 18 and 22 last, following outbreak of the dreaded bird flu in West Bengal and its spread to some of the North Indian states. The term poultry products include poultry feed and feed ingredients, besides egg.

Stating that the ban has been lifted on the import of the poultry and poultry products, Commissioner and Secretary Mewara told this newspaper today that the ban on the imports of such items from West Bengal was, however, not lifted.

According to sources in the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Directorate, the order (VFV- 373/2003/Part-I/162-A Dt 19th February, 2008) for lifting the ban has been sent to the Deputy Commissioners of the districts. It states that as the situation in West Bengal has considerably improved, the State Government after careful consideration has decided to lift the ban on entry of poultry and poultry products into the State immediately ‘except the areas where culling of birds took place in Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts.’

For, it states, “as per the Government of India’s direction these areas of Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts shall remain poultry-free zones as a precautionary measure for next two to three months.”