Dubai: The UAE has prohibited the import of all kinds of live domestic and wild birds, ornamental birds, chicks, hatching eggs and their thermally not treated wastes from the Republic of Croatia following the recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in that country.
The country has also prohibited the import of poultry meat and thermally not treated products and table eggs from the affected province of KRAPINSKO-ZAGORSKA.
Dr Majid Sultan Al Qasimi - director of Animal Health and Development Department at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, announced this in a media statement on Tuesday.
Based on the notification from the World Organization for Animal Health about the registration of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Republic of Croatia, he said the ministry had taken these actions since March 19.
However, the ministry has allowed continuing the importation of thermally treated poultry products (treated meat and processed egg products) and thermally treated poultry waste from all of the Republic of Croatia, he clarified.
It has also allowed the entry of imports, prior to February 25, of thermally not treated products and table eggs from the affected province.
It’s noteworthy that the ministry is keen to raise the level of food safety and ensure the provision of safe food to the consumer, the statement said.
The ministry works to implement the Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on the safety of food, which applies to all establishments licensed to trade food or feed, and consignments coming to the country or passing through its territory.
The law also applies in all stages of the food chain from primary production through processing until it reaches to the consumer. The ministry is responsible for standardizing and supervising food safety procedures in cooperation with concerned local food authorities.
Apart from this, the ministry is constantly working on developing the necessary policies, strategies and legislation to ensure food safety throughout the food chain and regulating trade activities to enhance food security. It also supports the national economy by regulating food handling activities including import, export and re-export, the statement added.
