International trade: Customer Information Notes - GEN08/115
UK Trade Restrictions due to Avian Influenza (AI)
This Customer Information Note is to inform customers that the Surveillance Zone and remaining disease control area restrictions put in place following the outbreak of avian influenza in Oxfordshire were lifted at 00.01 today (Tuesday 8th July) in accordance with EU legislation.
Background
Customer Information Note GEN/08/93, issued on 4 June 2008, explained the background to the current UK avian influenza case.
Trade with Northern Ireland
General import licences for imports of live poultry and poultry products have been re-instated from Tuesday 8 July 2008, replacing the need for importers to obtain specific licences. This returns the import position to that before the disease outbreak.
The movement of meat produced from birds originating within the Protection Zone (PZ) that were killed prior to the PZ merging with the Surveillance Zone will still require a specific import licence and must be accompanied by the Defra movement document.
Intra-Community Trade
With the exception of a small quantity of poultry meat produced from birds originating within the Protection Zone (PZ) that can only be placed on the domestic market, normal intra-Community trade rules will apply to the whole of the UK following the lifting of the zone restrictions.
Trade with Non-EU Countries
We hope that those export markets that will not agree to allow any UK imports of live poultry and/or poultry products and which refuse to regionalise the UK will allow trade to restart as soon as the UK regains its official OIE (the World Animal Health Organisation) status as free from notifiable avian influenza (NAI). OIE says that our disease-free status can be regained 3 months after secondary (i.e. final) cleansing and disinfection of all affected establishments and provided that surveillance is carried out during that three-month period. Final C&D is progressing.
Information
Defra will be issuing information about the incident(s) and regularly updating the Defra website.
We are also issuing Customer Information Notes (CINs) about international trade.
CIN Circulation List
If you are not receiving this CIN by email and you would like to do so, please send your name and email address to the address below.
Further Enquiries
If you have a query concerning exports or this CIN please contact your local Animal Health Division Office.
Page published: 8 July, 2008