Thailand bans poultry imports from Europe

Thailand has imposed a ban on poultry imports from European countries hit by the bird flu epidemic, a senior livestock official said Wednesday. The ban will last 90 days, but could "be lifted earlier if concerned countries can manage to curtail the disease before that," said Nirandorn Auengtrakulsuk, director of the livestock disease control division. The ban applies to Bulgaria , Romania , Germany , France , Italy , Austria , and Slovenia , he said.

Photo: Thailand bans poultry imports from Europe

Thailand , one of the world's top five chicken exporters, imports breeder chickens from Europe , Nirandorn said, adding that France , Germany , Britain , the Netherlands and Poland are major exporters to Thailand . "Because imports from France and Germany are banned, Thai chicken farmers might have to seek breeders from sources that aren't affected by the bird flu disease, like Britain ," Nirandorn said. Thailand imported a total of about 1 million breeder chickens Jan. 1 to Feb. 17, he said, reports the AP.

N.U.