EU suspends Ukraine poultry imports over avian flu fears
Authorities in Ukraine reacted with shock after learning that the EU is suspending poultry meat imports following recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu.
According to an operational report received from the European Commission last night, the import of poultry meat, poultry meat and thermally processed poultry products from Ukraine has been temporarily suspended,” reported the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection. “However, eggs and egg products are not subject to these restrictions.”
Taking into account the reports of numerous equivalence assessment missions, the results of negotiations and preliminary agreements, the aforementioned EU decision is extremely unexpected for the Ukrainian side, the agency said.
The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection said that, in accordance with its international obligations, Ukraine, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), promptly informed its international trading partners of an avian influenza case.
"Ukrainian measures for the control and eradication of bird flu have been recognized as equivalent to those implemented by EU member states," the agency said.
Image: Getty/Aleksandra Aleshchenko