GHANA – The government of Ghana has temporarily banned the import of domestic birds as well as their products from Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Denmark and the United Kingdom with immediate effect.

This comes following the outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza subtype H5N8 from these European countries, reports Ghana Web.

“The Ministry of Food and Agriculture upon advice from the Veterinary Services Directorate has placed a ban on the importation of day-old chicks, hatching eggs, frozen chicken, poultry products and poultry feed from these European countries with immediate effect,” said Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Agric, Robert P. Ankobiah in a Press Statement.

To prevent an outbreak of the disease in this country, the statement explained that all import permits that were issued earlier for such consignment have been rendered invalid due to the new directive.

“Importers are to note that all imports permit that were issued for such consignments from Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Denmark and United Kingdom have been rendered invalid with immediate effect,” he added.

The outbreak of the bird flu has been present in Europe since December 2019, with currently reported to have spread are in Russia, Kazakhstan and Israel, among other regions.

“The Ministry of Food and Agriculture upon advice from the Veterinary Services Directorate has placed a ban on the importation of day-old chicks, hatching eggs, frozen chicken, poultry products and poultry feed from these European countries with immediate effect.”

Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Agric – Robert P. Ankobiah

Meanwhile, UAE had approved importing chicks and hatching and table eggs from Egypt after a decade long ban.

In a letter received by the Agriculture Ministry, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment notified Egypt of its approval for beginning the imports, which would also include processed meat and poultry.

The decision came after the World Organization for Animal Health (OIC) made inspection visits to some Egyptian poultry companies and declared them free from avian flu.

The agriculture minister had said before that the ministry was planning to use the OIC accreditation for restoring Egypt’s leading role in the poultry industry and exporting its products to the Middle East and Africa after 14 years of absence from the world markets in this field.

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