International trade: Customer Information Notes - GEN/08/94
Trade restrictions due to Avian Influenza
Purpose
Providing an update on trade related issues further to CIN GEN 08/93 issued on 4 June 2008 as a result of our receipt of a proposed Commission Decision (PDF 64 KB) putting in place safeguard measures for the UK.
UK’s Avian Influenza Status
Notifiable Avian Influenza (H7N7) has been confirmed in domestic poultry - News releases are available.
Intra-Community Trade
The new proposed safeguard measure will formalise, at an EU level, the measures already put in place by Defra. As a result, there is no change to intra-community trade conditions from those detailed in CIN GEN 08/93.
Non-EU Exports
As a precautionary measure, all export health certificates had temporarily been made unavailable. The proposed safeguard measure does not impose any additional restrictions on the UK with regard to exports to non-EU countries.
We are now therefore able to start to make export health certificates available for poultry meat and poultry based products to non-EU countries provided the condition relating to avian influenza can be signed by an Official Veterinarian and that we have not been informed that the destination country has instigated a ban on the import of such products from the UK. Animal Health will issue these certificates entirely at the exporters risk with a disclaimer (see Annex 1).
As before, Animal Health will only issue export health certificates for live poultry and other birds if we have positive confirmation from the veterinary authorities of the destination country that they are content to accept the consignment. Exporters who have an imminent consignment or who have a planned export within the forthcoming weeks should contact Animal Health (see contact details below) urgently. In these priority cases Defra will contact the overseas veterinary authorities and the FCO Overseas Post to try to get confirmation that the consignment will be accepted. Exporters need to be aware that in the current situation, many export consignments for live birds may not be able to go ahead.
Information
Defra will issue daily situation reports providing as up-to-date information as we have on import bans or restrictions. We cannot guarantee that the information is comprehensive but it will include what information has come to our attention.
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 your local AHDO.
Further Enquiries
Any enquiries about exports or this Customer Information Note should be directed to your local Animal Health Office.
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES
Certificate ref: .............
ATTENTION
Notice to Exporters
Following the confirmation of notifiable avian influenza in the County of Oxfordshire in England on 3 June 2008 and the previous case on 12 November 2007 in Norfolk and Suffolk, it is possible that some non-EU countries will be unwilling to accept import consignments from the UK.
Non-EU countries may change their import conditions or impose import bans at short notice or without warning. Please note that the issuing by Defra/SEERAD/NAW of an export health certificate in relation to your consignment does not imply any assurance that the consignment will be accepted by the authorities of the destination country.
Proceeding with the export and using an export health certificate issued by Defra/SEERAD/NAW is done entirely at your risk.
We strongly recommend that before exporting your consignment you satisfy yourself that the importing country’s authorities are expecting your consignment and are willing to accept it. We suggest that to minimise the risk of delay or rejection at the port of destination, you obtain a written statement, on official paper, from the importing authorities stating that the consignment is to be accepted. The statement should accompany the consignment.
Issued by:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
National Assembly for Wales
5 June 2008
Page published: 5 June, 2008