VILNIUS: Lithuania has suspended some imports of poultry from France due to an outbreak of bird flu in that country, informs LETA/BNS.
The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) on December 28 ordered a temporary ban on the imports of live birds of all types, hatching eggs, fresh, minced poultry meat, poultry meat preparations and other products from the French territories affected by highly pathogenic bird flu.
“The situation in France is really difficult, in particular in view of the spread of as many as three different strains in the past month… Indeed, the situation is not simple, with cases of bird flu in Germany and the Netherlands, hence the situation in Europe isn’t calm,” Jonas Milius, VMVT director, told BNS.
The ban was currently limited to France, he said, adding that the veterinary service might also take similar measures in respect to other countries if the virus were to spread.
Milius would not say how long the ban would remain in place.
“We’ll monitor the situation, its development, the success of combat with the disease,” he said, adding that Lithuania’s imports of poultry from France had not been substantial.
The chief veterinary officer also said that Lithuania was now free of bird flu.
Imports of poultry from France have also been suspended by a number of other countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Algeria, Egypt, Thailand, Tunisia, Morocco and Iraq. The current outbreak of bird flu in France is said to be the first in that country in eight years.
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