Barbados places temporary restrictions on poultry imports from EU

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Barbados has placed a temporary restriction on the importation of all live birds, hatching eggs, and on fresh, frozen and chilled poultry meat and products, including table eggs originating from the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union.

In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Services Department said the move "with immediate effect ... follows the confirmation of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 in poultry farms in England.

"The import restrictions, however, do not apply to processed products and by-products that have been processed, for example those heat treated, to ensure the destruction of the avian influenza virus."

The statement said that in addition, "personal (passenger) imports of all fresh or cooked poultry products, with the exception of fully cooked products in hermetically sealed packages are restricted entry from the UK and European Union as a whole, and all permits issued prior to this notice are revoked with immediate effect".