Namibia has lifted the ban on importation and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds and poultry products from Ireland following the regaining of freedom status of highly pathogenic avian influenza (hpai) in that country.
Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Albertina Shilongo said the country will resume with the import and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds, raw/uncooked poultry products, live ostriches and raw ostrich products from Ireland.
“The Import ban of poultry and poultry products from Ireland was imposed as a result of the outbreak of HPAI in Ireland on 12 November 2022. The republic of Ireland has regained its high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) disease freedom status as from 21 December 2022 in accordance with Chapter 10.4 of World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH/OIE),” she said.
This comes as Namibia last month announced an immediate ban on poultry imports from Argentina following the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in that country after the disease was detected on 24 February.
Due to the incubation period of 21 days, as set by the World Health Organization, “thus consignments containing poultry products packed in their packing on or after the date of start of suspension will be rejected and sent back to the country of origin or destroyed at the importers cost”.
Dr Shilongo then said all previously issued import and transit permits “are hereby cancelled and recalled with immediate effect”.
Cooked poultry meat products for commercial purposes may still be imported into the country under a veterinary import permit.
Due to the risk of human transmission and the potential economic impact on the poultry industry, outbreaks of HPAI are closely monitored and controlled by governments and international organisations.
Control measures typically include quarantine, culling of infected birds, and restrictions on the movement of birds and poultry products.
