Dubai lifts poultry import ban on Gulf, Arab countries

Dubai's Ministry of Environment and Water has lifted a ban on the import of live birds and poultry products from the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab region.
The ministry had imposed the ban earlier as part of its surveillance on an avian flu pandemic that communicated through the import of bird products.
Though the ban has been lifted, several security measures remain in place. “The exporting country should be free of bird flu at least 12 months before the date of shipment, with certificates and documents from government agencies to prove that the products are free from virus or contamination,” said spokesperson at the MoEW. “The shipment of live birds should carry the veterinary health certificate from competent authorities of the exporting country to ensure that they are not affected with any type of infectious disease. “The importer should also produce a certificate issued by an accredited laboratory within a period not exceeding 21 days of the export.”
Should such conditions not be met, the imported consignment will be rejected and returned to the country of origin or will be confiscated and destroyed in the UAE in accordance with the quarantine procedures, according to the ministry.