Bhutan lifts poultry import ban on India
Two months after India declared itself bird-flu free, Bhutan has lifted an eight-month import ban on poultry, eggs and related products from the country.
Bhutan originally imposed the indefinite ban in February after an outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza virus occurred in poultry in India’s Maharashtra state.
India declared itself free of the virus on 12 August, based on a report of the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL).
The lifting of the ban comes with several conditions aimed at minimising the risk of egg-borne and poultry meat-borne diseases like avian flu.
“This would ensure and safeguard public health and guarantee that only safe and quality poultry products are made available for general consumers in Bhutan,” said Bhutan’s agriculture ministry.
The ministry said all poultry meat must be processed with proper packaging and must be from a Government of India certified unit.
“All consignments should be transported in refrigerated vehicles to Bhutan and the quantity of each consignment will be specified,” the statement said.
Prices of chicken and eggs in Bhutan skyrocketed after the ban was put in place, owing to the scarcity of local produce.
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