China has suspended poultry and poultry product imports from 14
countries where bird flu cases were reported, a government notice
says.
The import suspension was imposed on October 28, according to
the notice published on the website of the Ministry of Commerce
Tuesday, November 1.
The 14 countries are Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia,
Japan, North Korea, Romania, Croatia, Kazakhstan, South Africa,
Mongolia, Turkey, Russia and Sweden, according to the notice
jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of
Agriculture, the General Administration of
Customs and the General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine.
The notice says the import suspension is meant to prevent the
infection of animal epidemics as bird flu, to protect the health of
the people and guarantee the safety of China's animal
husbandry.
The suspension will be valid until further notice.
Late last month, China also reported three bird flu outbreaks in
Inner Mongolia, Anhui Province and Hunan Province, which have been
brought under control. The Chinese government said there is no
report of any human infection of bird flu.
(China Daily November 2, 2005)