Avellon Williams
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS – United Kingdom poultry imports have been temporarily banned in Barbados.
It comes amid the largest outbreak of the Avian Influenza virus ever seen in the UK. A total of 3.8 million birds have been killed in the UK as a result of the bird flu outbreak.
In a ban issued by the Chief Veterinary Officer at Veterinary Services, Dr. Mark Trotman, live poultry and poultry products from the UK have been banned.
According to him: “Although there have been no human cases of the outbreak, this virus has the potential to infect humans.
“As with most diseases that are not present in this area, the best protection is strengthening quarantine measures.”
This new ban has been implemented immediately, according to Dr. Trotman. Travelers coming from the UK with personal fresh or cooked poultry products will also be subject to the new restrictions. The only exception to this rule is products that are fully cooked and packaged in hermetically sealed packaging (cans).
Moreover, he announced that no more permits or licences will be issued for the importation of restricted products.
A growing outbreak of avian flu has been reported to have killed more than 30 birds in Hyde Park and Kensington Palace parks, experts believe.
The new restrictions do not apply to commercial imports of processed poultry products, Dr. Trotman said.
According to him, all commercial imports must be accompanied by an official veterinary export health certificate, which proves the products have been treated to eliminate the avian influenza virus.
These products include:
(1) Processed (heat-treated) egg and poultry meat products,
(2) Heat-treated poultry meat products in a hermetically sealed container,
(3) Extruded dry pet food and coated ingredients after extrusion;
(4) Rendered meat-and-bone meal, blood meal, feather meal, and poultry oil;
(5) Washed and steam-dried feathers and down from poultry and other birds.
According to Barbados Veterinary Services, they will continue to monitor the situation with the ongoing bird flu outbreak in the UK.
Additionally, the outbreak has affected the supply of eggs to British supermarkets. It has been reported that eggs will be rationed until Spring 2023 by many major retailers.
