UAE | Health

Bird flu fight hits travellers

The National Committee for Emergency Response to Bird Flu has banned travellers from bringing in birds and related products, including meat, eggs and "even a feather."

  • By Nissar Hoath, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:37 May 3, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
  • Birds at Abu Dhabi's bird market. Under the new legislation people coming into the UAE are prohibited from bringing in any birds or related products.

Abu Dhabi: The National Committee for Emergency Response to Bird Flu has banned travellers from bringing in birds and related products, including meat, eggs and "even a feather."

The ban comes in a decree issued by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, in his capacity as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee.

Under the new ruling, travellers arriving at the country's airports, ports and by land are prohibited from bringing in any kind of bird or related products. These include exotic and pet birds, poultry meat in any form, eggs and even feathers.

Law No. 2 (2007) stipulates: "No traveller entering the UAE shall be allowed to carry with him/her whatever quantity of any raw or unmanufactured poultry product or live birds, including eggs, meat, or even a feather."

Preventive measures

The decree calls upon the Foreign Ministry, all residency and naturalisation departments, border guard administrations and other related organisations to take steps to notify travellers visiting the UAE about the new measures.

Article 4 of the decree authorises the Ministry of Environment and Water and all the country's customs departments to confiscate the banned items and impose fines on travellers who violate the new decree.

The new law was issued yesterday. The new decree also urges the Committee Chairman to take measures to ensure its strict implementation.

Shaikh Saif issued another decree related to preventive measures against the bird flu virus.

The decree establishes a new and permanent task force controlling and managing emergency health measures in case of a pandemic situation and the avian virus spreading among humans.

According to Decree No. 1 (2007) the task force will consist of experts in the medical field.

The members of the force will be drawn from all official health institutions of the state.

Its task, among other things, also includes the implementation of Decree No. 2 on the prevention of entry into the UAE of poultry products and live birds in the custody of travellers entering the country.

The task force will also consist of representatives of the UAE Armed Forces, Ministry of Health, Interior Ministry, Abu Dhabi Medical Authority and Dubai Health and Medical Services Authority.

The six-article decree outlines the prerogatives of the task force, which will work closely with the Chairman of the National Committee for Emergency Response to Bird Flu.

Shaikh Saif urged all Federal and local government institutions to ensure the two decrees are strictly implemented.

No traveller entering the UAE will be allowed to carry with him/her whatever quantity of any raw or unmanufactured poultry product or live birds, including eggs, meat, or even a feather.

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