Ban imposed on poultry products from sections of North America

The Government of Jamaica has imposed a ban on the importation of poultry products from sections of North America, following reports of outbreaks of bird flu on the continent.

The Ministry of Agriculture states that the ban applies to products from Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, California, Idaho, Oregon and  Washington in the United States and British Columbia in Canada. Among the products imported from sections of North America are chicken back and turkey neck.

Donovan Stanberry, Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, says the ban is to safeguard Jamaica’s poultry and public health. He stressed that Jamaica is free of the pathogenic avian influenza virus commonly known as bird flu. 

Mr Stanberry told RJR News that he does not foresee any shortage of the poultry products in Jamaica. He added that it's too early to say if this will affect the price of poultry products.    

Mr Stanberry said the National Emergency Animal Disease Committee is in place to execute programmes necessary to ensure Jamaica's preparedness to handle outbreaks of bird flu. He's also urging farmers to avoid contact between their poultry and wild birds, including pigeons, as it is believed that the disease can be spread by these wild birds.