RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has temporarily banned the import of poultry meat, eggs, their products and equipment from five more regions in the United States because of the spread of severe bird flu disease there. The regions are: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. These five regions were added to the eight regions — Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas — from where poultry meat was banned earlier. The SFDA excluded from the temporary ban the poultry meat and eggs and their products that are treated thermally or in any other way capable of eradicating the bird flu virus, and should be in conformity with the requirements of health controls and accredited standards. A health certificate should be attached proving that the products were treated thermally or in any other way capable of elimination of avian influenza virus. The certificate should be issued by the competent official authorities in the USA. ?This temporary ban will continue until the health status of livestock and the approval of the facilities for export of poultry meat and products are stable there. The SFDA has also temporarily banned the import of poultry meat, eggs, their products and equipment from the city of Thimphu in Bhutan. This ban shall continue until the stability of the health status of livestock and the approval of facilities for the export of poultry meat and products there. — SPA
