Belarus restricts poultry imports from Czech Republic

MINSK, 22 December (BelTA) – Belarus has imposed temporary restrictions on the import of poultry from the Czech Republic, BelTA learnt from the veterinary and food surveillance department of the Agriculture and Food Ministry of Belarus.

The ministry explained that according to the information provided by the World Organization for Animal Health, an incident of Newcastle disease was registered in the Czech Republic (Central Bohemia). “To prevent the penetration of the diseases to the territory of Belarus, the country has introduced temporary restrictions on the import of live poultry, incubating eggs, poultry meat and all other kinds of processed poultry, feathers, fodder, food additives made from animals, including from poultry”.

At the same time Belarus canceled all previously issued permits for import of the above-mentioned goods from the Czech Republic.

Newcastle disease is a highly contagious bird disease affecting domestic and wild avian species. It causes mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms. The lethality rate among young birds is almost 100%. The birds who survive the disease do not grow well. The disease is transmissible to humans.