Due to the outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu in Poland, the Chinese General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have decided to introduce a ban on the import of poultry products. The previous embargo was lifted in June this year.
The Chinese authorities announced in a statement that on August 23, 2024, Poland reported to the World Organization for Animal Health an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the H5N1 subtype in the Lubuskie Voivodeship.
“In order to prevent the epidemic and protect the safety of animal breeding and biosecurity in China,” the authorities decided to ban “the direct or indirect import of poultry and poultry-related products from Poland,” the Customs Administration said in a statement on its website. The decision came into effect on the day of publication, Wednesday, September 4.
Ban on import of Polish poultry to China
Poultry products shipped to Chin before that date will be subject to strict quarantine and testing before their release, while those shipped after that date will be returned or destroyed, it explained.
“Unfortunately, we had a case of HPAI in Poland. Regionalization serves to counteract such situations. By December, both countries have committed to sign an agreement, which is the subject of negotiations. After its entry into force, in the event of detection of HPAI, only the given region will be blocked,” wrote on Friday on Platform X, the Polish ambassador to Beijing, Jakub Kumoch, referring to one of the agreements reached during the June visit of the Polish president. Andrzej Duda in China.
The previous such ban, imposed in January 2020, was lifted on June 24 this year.
As indicated by the head of the Veterinary Inspection, China's suspension of poultry imports applies to all of Poland and all plants. – “The unblocking (of Polish exports – ed.) occurred in connection with obtaining official freedom from HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza – ed.) in April this year. After the outbreak was confirmed, we lost the possibility of exporting again. Fortunately, in the agreement (concluded with China – ed.) we have a clause that provides that talks and arrangements regarding regionalization are not suspended, even if an outbreak occurs and we lose the status of a country free from HPAI” – noted Krzysztof Jażdżewski in the information sent to PAP.
Earlier, Jażdżewski informed PAP that Polish-Chinese negotiations on regionalization are to be completed by the end of this year, so that poultry meat can be exported from Poland to China even if a bird flu outbreak occurs locally.
– The Chinese partners signed an agreement with our deputy minister (Jacek Czerniak – ed.) that sets out a path to regionalization. This is a road map. Both parties have committed to completing negotiations in this area by the end of this year. Then a formal decision will have to be made – the Chief Veterinary Officer said earlier.
Jażdżewski also explained that “regionalization, regardless of the epizootic situation, will enable the shipment of poultry meat from places where the disease is not present.”
On Friday, the president of the National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce, Dariusz Goszczyński, said in an interview with PAP that the procedure initiated by China to suspend poultry imports from Poland is of a routine nature, and the industry had expected a similar situation to occur.
– This shows that regionalization is key to maintaining export continuity – he emphasized. He added that the outbreak that occurred in August has already died down. – If no further outbreaks are detected, World Health Organization Animal Welfare (WOAH) will recognize Poland as a country free from HPAI, and export from our country will be suspended. Nevertheless, all this complicates trade greatly – Goszczyński pointed out.
The KRD-IG President added that nine Polish plants that were permitted to sell poultry meat on the Chinese market before 2020, when exports from Poland were suspended due to the bird flu reported in our country, have already obtained the appropriate registration, which allows them to send goods to contractors. He added that more than 20 more plants are interested in entering the Chinese market.
– The introduction of regionalization will allow us to maintain the fluidity of exports to China – emphasized Goszczyński. At the same time, he reminded that Poland was also granted regionalization Japan, South Koreaand also Philippines – as the first country in the European Union. – This opens up new prospects for Polish poultry exports in the Far East markets – he assessed.
Bird flu in Poland
In August, the Chief Veterinary Officer reported the detection of an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry in the country. It was confirmed in the town of Chociule near Świebodzin in the Lubuskie province “based on the results of laboratory tests from 22 August this year on a commercial farm keeping 14,730 slaughter turkeys”.
This year, 26 HPAI outbreaks were reported in poultry, 3 outbreaks in captive birds and 21 HPAI outbreaks in wild birds.
Bird flu is a viral disease that mainly affects birds – both poultry and wild birds. Infection occurs mainly through the respiratory and alimentary route, and the most likely source of infection for domestic poultry is direct or indirect contact with migrating wild birds, usually waterfowl. The virus can also be spread through contaminated feed, water, fertilizer, litter, equipment and means of transport. A very important role in the spread of the bird flu virus is played by humans, who, for example, through contaminated clothing, can contribute to the spread of the disease. According to the regulations, if bird flu is detected in poultry on a farm, such a flock must be eliminated as soon as possible. This is why this virus is so dangerous to the poultry industry.
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