BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
A ban has been imposed and effective on poultry products from Australia due to a recent bird flu outbreak in several Australian states.
Biosecurity Solomon Islands Director within the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Francis Tsatsia told Island Sun in an exclusive interview via a phone call on Thursday 11 July.
“We have been informed by the agriculture authorities in Victoria two weeks ago of the bird flu outbreak in Victoria, Australia. Ban has already been imposed and effective two weeks ago,’’ said Tsatsia.
Mr Tsatsia stated that the ban is imposed mainly on poultry products from the Australian states that were experiencing the outbreak.
“The ban is targeted at poultry products from Australian states that were currently facing the outbreak. We are collaborating with the Customs, Ministry of Health and Medical Services Environment division, and authorities from Australia,’’ said Tsatsia.
He stressed that they have been monitoring the situation through working closely together with the Australian authorities in Victoria on the issue.
“This is a serious issue and risk to our food security especially in terms of poultry products importation. That doesn’t mean that all poultry products from Australia have been banned, No. There is no total ban on all poultry products from Australia, the ban is especially for affected states in Australia,’’ he said.
“Currently most of the poultry product coming into the country has been going through proper channels, validation, and certification before it enters the country. So, we are working around the clock on this issue very closely,’’ he said.
Recently Australian media reports that several countries that import from Australia have imposed a ban due to the recent bird flu outbreak in several Australian states.
The agriculture ministries of these countries have announced an immediate halt on the imports of wild and domestic birds, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from Australia.
According to the media reports, a highly contagious strain of avian influenza has been detected at an eighth egg farm in Victoria hence work is ongoing on all poultry on the farm to be “safely and humanely disposed of” before the site is cleaned and cleared of infection.
