PAAF bans importing birds from Niger due to H5N1 outbreak

KUWAIT, May 28 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAF) announced Thursday a ban on the import of all live birds, poultry, chicks, and eggs from Niger due to outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) in that country.
All incoming consignments to Kuwait must be subjected to PAAF's requirements and restrictions, PAAF Chairperson and Director-General Nabila Al-Khalil said in a press statement.
Al-Khalil also stressed the importance that consignments match the GCC's veterinary quarantine system, the World Organization for Animal Health's (OIC) measures, and procedures of Kuwait's veterinary quarantine system.
Consignments carrying epidemic and infectious diseases will be rejected immediately from entry, she said, adding that the importers must return infected consignments to the country of origin on their own expenses. (end) mf.nfa.fs.ma