United Kingdom poultry import applications resume
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    The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) announced today (July 11) that the processing of applications for importing poultry meat and poultry products from the United Kingdom (except Suffolk, Norfolk, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire counties) would resume with immediate effect.

    The centre suspended processing of applications following confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H7 cases on poultry farms in Oxfordshire in June this year.

    "In view of the control measures taken by the United Kingdom and the fact that there are no other cases of avian influenza reported, we decide to resume processing of applications," a CFS spokesman said.

    "As the UK authorities have, other than Oxfordshire, also included Suffolk, Norfolk (both confirmed with avian influenza cases on poultry farms last year) and Warwickshire (close to Oxfordshire) counties in their surveillance zone, restrictions are not lifted for these four counties."

    "We will continue to monitor the situation," he said.

Ends/Friday, July 11, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:33

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