The Colombian Agricultural Institute, ICA, ordered the slaughter of 150 spent hens from Venezuela. The birds were seized in the town of Arauquita in the department of Arauca.

The measure was taken in order to prevent the entry and spread of diseases official control, the Colombian territory and thus safeguard national poultry production, according to ICA.

Germán Silva Amézquita of ICA who is based in Arauca said that hens from other countries pose a risk of spreading diseases to Colombian poultry, particularly Newcastle disease and avian influenza.

The import of live poultry from other countries was made illegal in Colombia in 2005 in a move to raise the country's animal health status for international trade.