Lanka temporarily bans poultry product imports from India

Manjula FERNANDO

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka temporarily banned imports of poultry products from India following reports of a bird flu outbreak in Manipur yesterday.

Livestock Development Deputy Minister A. Bais said there will be a temporary restriction on poultry products from India to prevent contamination and the spread of the disease to the country.

“This restriction will stay until India gets the clearance from the IAHO (International Animal Health Organisation),” the Minister added.

The avian influenza outbreak is reported to have occurred in the area near the Myanmar border.

The Department of Animal Products and Health decided to stop issuing permits for future imports from yesterday to prevent the contaminated products from reaching the local industry.

Sri Lanka mainly brings down day-old chicks and parent stock from India.

The import of poultry products to Sri Lanka from the United States, UK and Australia was also banned earlier.

The restriction on US and Australia was later lifted but the UK ban still stands, the Minister added.