Preventing the entry of bird flu Panama issues restrictions on poultry imports

Preventing the entry of bird flu Panama issues restrictions on poultry imports  For more information on export to China, please call SINOLOBEN, service Email: sinoloben@sloben.com.

With the recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in several U.S. states, Panama's Ministry of Agricultural Development has issued an alert for the poultry import sector to avoid the spread of the disease into the country.

Panama's Panamericana newspaper reported on March 26 that U.S. Department of Agriculture data show that the H5N1 avian influenza virus has been detected in at least 17 states since February of this year, the most serious avian influenza outbreak since 2015. The bird flu virus has had a "devastating" impact on many poultry farms along the U.S. East Coast and Midwest. There is no indication yet that this strain of bird flu poses a threat to human health, but experts are keeping a close eye on the possibility of its mutation.
 
The current outbreak has caused a high level of alarm in Panama, as the country's imports of poultry products are mainly of U.S. origin. Recently, Panama's Ministry of Agricultural Development, through the National Animal Health Service, issued an alert prohibiting the import of live poultry, poultry products, by-products and genetic material (e.g., eggs, fry, etc.) from countries or regions affected by the HPAI virus.
 
The Ministry of Agricultural Development said that the above import restrictions are temporary measures and the alert will be adjusted by the authorities concerned after the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) redetermines the animal health status of the countries affected by avian influenza.
 
As an important transit country for international trade, the risk of importation and spread of avian influenza outbreaks in Panama is extremely high. If urgent and effective health measures are not taken, avian influenza is a zoonotic disease that not only risks human health, but also affects the development of Panama's poultry industry, food supply and national security.

Consulting service for China's imports & exports, please contact us.

Ms. Linda Li
0086（0）21 3538 3306
sinoloben@thecustoms.com.cn

As food importer & food distributor based in Frankfurt and Shanghai, Sinoloben Europa Trading GmbH helps client export to China and bring your food products to International Expo, e.g. China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's largest import-themed expo.  

Transferred from the network, such as intrusion and deletion.