The EU's poultry association has joined in the criticism of the
European Commission for approving the vaccination of poultry flocks
in the Netherlands and France.
In an ominous sign for processors and the public, France has
slaughtered turkeys at a farm suspected of being infected with the
deadly form of avian influenza, possibly marking the first time the
disease has spread to domestic stock...
The EU's controversal approval of decisions by France and the
Netherlands' to start vaccinating their poultry highlights the
fault lines in the bloc's response to avian influenza.
The deadly form of avian influenza has hit Europe's largest poultry
producer, with France's government confirming over the weekend that
the H5N1 form of the virus was found in a dead duck and possibly
some swans.
Get ready for the impact of avian influenza, as the disease has
been conclusively found in wild birds in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria,
Slovenia and Azerbaijan over the weekend.
A deadly outbreak of avian flu in Turkey is spreading westward,
with health officials confirming that a further three human cases
have been found in the capital Ankara on Sunday, along with
infected domestic fowl.
Processors making products like mayonnaise, mousse and icing will
be looking for a consumer reaction to the latest bird flu advice
from the EU's food safety regulator, which yesterday called
onconsumers to avoid eating raw eggs.
With the US public starting to be aware of the impact avian
influenza could have, poultry processors have started taking action
now to ward of a potential drop in demand.
With bird flu creeping up on the EU, the bloc's members have been
jolted into a more active response to the danger, which not only
threatens human health, but also the poultry processing sector's
livelihood.
Food processors, especially those pasturising egg whites and
importing poultry ingredients from abroad, should remain vigilant,
according to advice on avian influenza from the EU's food safety
regulator.
With the media and scientists touting the possibility that avian
flu could migrate to the EU from Russia, the chicken is facing
another round of bad publicity.
The Thai poultry industry could be about to restock on a massive
scale after the devastation of the avian flu epidemic earlier this
year. The country's feed industry is set to import cargoes of
Argentine soybeans as the country...
Asian countries that declare victory over avian influenza should
base such statements on in-depth investigations, FAO and the World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) urged in a joint statement
today. There have been fears that...
Across Europe, governments have been working flat out to calm
public fears about the dangers posed by the current avian 'flu
crisis in Asia. The EU does not import any poultry from Vietnam,
South Korea or Japan, the countries...
Following the possible outbreak of avian influenza in Germany last week, the European Commission has decided to reinforce the control measures already put in place by German authorities.
