BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – St Kitts-Nevis has become the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to impose a ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from several US states following reports of an outbreak of Bird Flu.
Like Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda said the ban applies to poultry products from the US states of Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and British Columbia in Canada.
The list includes all poultry products, by-products and eggs and the authorities here said that the ban is intended to safeguard the poultry industry.
The ban is expected to remain in effect for three months and officials here said that the restrictions are necessary to minimize the introduction of the bird flu virus into the twin-island federation, where more than 22 poultry farms would be at risk.
Antigua and Barbuda is also expected to follow the positions adopted by the two CARICOM countries.