BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Tuesday January 13, 2015, CMC – The Barbados government has announced a temporary ban on poultry from British Columbia “with immediate effect” following the confirmation of outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N8 in poultry farms.
“Personal imports of all fresh or cooked poultry products, with the exception of fully-cooked products in hermetically sealed packages, are restricted entry from Canada as a whole, and all permits issued prior to this notice are revoked with immediate effect,” said Senior Veterinary Officer, Dr. Mark Trotman.
However, he said that “the import restrictions do not apply to commercial imports or products originating outside of British Columbia, to products originating from British Columbia that were produced prior to November 9, 2014, nor to processed poultry products and by-products that have been processed (e.g. heat treated) to ensure the destruction of the avian influenza virus”.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management said the ban would affect the importation of all live birds, hatching eggs, and on fresh, frozen and chilled poultry meat and products, including table eggs.