The Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) has set out conditions for importing live birds and their meat products from the countries of Asia, reports Gulf Today.

According to a statement, the ministry bans the import of poultry products without an authorised certificate issued by the authority from the country of origin.

In addition to this, a valid health certificate needs to be submitted through an official body in the exporting country. This should be authenticated by the embassy of the UAE or from any embassy of the GCC in the country of origin.

The certificate should contain the name and address of the exporter and importer, in addition to country of origin of the product and the batch number.

An official statement needs to also state that the products are free from diseases and that they are from farms, which have not implemented any immunisation initiatives on the birds for at least 12 months before the bird was slaughtered.

The birds should have been slaughtered in an abattoir licensed by the exporting country and authorised in the UAE, the ministry statement added.

The MoEW also stated that exporters need to attach a slaughter certificate that follows a similar standard to that adopted in the UAE and should be issued by a centre or an Islamic association authorised in the UAE.

It also stated that the products in each consignment should be properly wrapped with the materials used in packaging being consistent with standards applicable in the UAE.

The resolution stressed the importance that the exporting country should have an veterinarian health system for monitoring poultry farms, especially with regards to diseases such as bird flu.

The exporting country should also has a system to investigate infected birds with an early warning programme as well as a system to track the infected animals. These standards should be compatible with those of the World Organisation for Animal Health.

In the case that these conditions are not met, Gulf Today reports that the consignment will be rejected and returned to the country of origin at the expense of the importer or will be confiscated and destroyed according to the quarantine and health procedures applicable in the country.