Commission Midday Express, 26 July 2004
The European Commission has adopted a decision to continue the suspension of
imports into the EU of chicken products and pet birds from several Asian countries
where avian influenza has been confirmed since the beginning of this year. The
countries concerned are Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan,
China, South Korea and Vietnam. In some of these countries outbreaks of avian
influenza still occur and the overall disease situation in the area remains
unclear. The Commission therefore decided, with the support of the Standing
Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health, to prolong the existing ban
(until 15 August 2004 - see IP/04/160) on imports of poultry products until
15 December 2004. In detail the ban covers fresh meat of poultry, ratites, wild
and farmed feathered game, meat preparations, meat products and raw pet food
consisting of, or containing meat of those species, eggs for human consumption,
live birds, unprocessed feathers and untreated game trophies.