The restrictions are necessary in order to prevent a virus incursion into the Russian poultry flock, explained Rosselkhoznadzor.
Between December 4-10, Germany reported 8 new outbreaks of avian influenza, and the Czech Republic confirmed 3 new outbreaks, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Therefore, from December 10 the regulator decided to introduce a temporary ban on import of poultry products to Russia from a number of German states: the Harburg region (the federal state Lower Saxony), Altenburg (the federal state of Thuringia) and the federal state North Rhine-Westphalia.
Likewise, from December 10 supplies of poultry products from two regions of the Czech Republic, the South Moravian Region and the Liberec Region, will be temporarily banned.
Rosselkhoznadzor clarified that the ban includes:
- live poultry;
- hatching eggs;
- poultry meat;
- finished poultry meat products (excluding goods subject to processing that ensures the destruction of avian influenza viruses, according to the provisions of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code);
- feed and feed additives for poultry (excluding feed and feed additives of plant origin produced by chemical and microbiological synthesis).
Authorities also imposed a ban on transporting live poultry within Russia.
Earlier, the OIE expressed concern over the worsening situation with highly pathogenic avian influenza in the world. More than 40 nations were hit by the disease outbreaks. A total of 57 bird flu outbreaks have been reported in Russia since the beginning of 2021 (until November 22). 45 outbreaks affected commercial poultry producers.
The OIE experts urged the poultry sector to practice the highest levels of biosecurity and report all new disease outbreaks.
