Bird Flu: Namibia Suspends Poultry Imports from European Countries

Namibia has halted imports of live poultry and poultry products from 10 countries following outbreaks of bird flu in Europe.

The suspension affects imports from Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands, Ukraine, Belgium, Germany, Poland, France and Sweden the Directorate of Veterinary Services said in a statement.

“The Directorate of Veterinary Services would like to inform the importers about the immediate suspension of import and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds, raw/uncooked poultry products, live ostriches, and raw ostrich products from the above-mentioned counties due to the outbreak of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) in poultry in those countries,”
Chief Veterinary Officer Albertina Shilongo said.

Shilongo said the directive replaces the veterinary notification to importers issued on 29, December 2020.

Imports of live ostrich and raw ostrich products will also be suspended, said Chief veterinary officer Dr. Albertina Shilongo.

She explained that consignments containing poultry products packed in their final packaging on or after the date of start of suspension will be rejected or destroyed at the importer’s cost.

Namibia’s annual poultry consumption is estimated at 30,000 tonnes. It relies on imports, mainly from neighbouring South Africa, to meet demand.

Thousands of chickens and other poultry birds have been culled as bird flu spreads across Europe.

Last week, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported a similar outbreak in the Thies region of Senegal for which 58,000 birds were killed.