Just over two weeks after the lifting of a ban, which gave commercial importers and travellers the all-clear to import all meat and meat products from the United Kingdom, Government’s Veterinary Services department has been forced to re-impose a temporary ban on all poultry and poultry products from Britain.
According to Senior Veterinary Officer, Dr. Mark Trotman, the ban, which takes immediate effect, and includes fresh, chilled, frozen poultry and poultry products, hatching eggs, live poultry, pet birds and feathers, is due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza there.
Commercial imports of cooked or processed poultry and poultry products will, however, be allowed under import permit from Veterinary Services.
Importers are also advised that all commercial shipments of live animals and animal products must be accompanied by an Export Health Certificate issued by the UK’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Additionally, an import permit is also needed for personal (passenger) imports of meat and meat products and these products must be in their original packaging and bear an official inspection mark. Passengers must declare these items upon arrival and present them to the agricultural quarantine inspector for examination.