China has banned the import of Polish poultry following an outbreak of bird flu in the Lubuskie region in western Poland.
The ban, which took effect on September 4, aims to protect China’s biosecurity and animal health from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the General Administration of Customs of China reported.
Avian flu, particularly the H5N1 strain, poses a serious threat to the poultry industry. Strict biosecurity measures, including the immediate culling of affected flocks, are key to preventing its further spread.
Poland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Krzysztof Jażdżewski, said that the ban applies to all Polish poultry producers but assured that negotiations that would allow unaffected areas to resume exports were ongoing.
“Talks on regionalization will continue, even though we have lost our HPAI-free status,” Jażdżewski told Poland’s state news agency, PAP.
This regionalization agreement, expected to be finalized by the end of the year, would allow exports from unaffected regions of Poland to continue, even during local outbreaks. “This will ensure the continuity of exports,” Jażdżewski said.
Dariusz Goszczyński, head of Poland’s National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce, told PAP that China’s decision to suspend poultry imports from Poland was a routine procedure, and the industry was prepared for such a situation.
He added that the outbreak, recorded in August, had already been contained. “If no further cases are detected, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) will recognize Poland as free from HPAI, and exports from our country will resume.”
Goszczyński also pointed out that Poland had been the first country in the EU to successfully negotiate regionalization agreements with Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, and hoped to achieve the same with China. “This opens new opportunities for Polish poultry exports in Asia,” he added.
In 2020, China imposed a similar ban due to bird flu in Poland but lifted it in June the same year.
Avian flu, particularly the H5N1 strain, poses a serious threat to the poultry industry. Strict biosecurity measures, including the immediate culling of affected flocks, are key to preventing its further spread.
Poland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Krzysztof Jażdżewski, said that the ban applies to all Polish poultry producers but assured that negotiations that would allow unaffected areas to resume exports were ongoing.
Regionalization
“Talks on regionalization will continue, even though we have lost our HPAI-free status,” Jażdżewski told Poland’s state news agency, PAP.
This regionalization agreement, expected to be finalized by the end of the year, would allow exports from unaffected regions of Poland to continue, even during local outbreaks. “This will ensure the continuity of exports,” Jażdżewski said.
Dariusz Goszczyński, head of Poland’s National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce, told PAP that China’s decision to suspend poultry imports from Poland was a routine procedure, and the industry was prepared for such a situation.
He added that the outbreak, recorded in August, had already been contained. “If no further cases are detected, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) will recognize Poland as free from HPAI, and exports from our country will resume.”
Goszczyński also pointed out that Poland had been the first country in the EU to successfully negotiate regionalization agreements with Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, and hoped to achieve the same with China. “This opens new opportunities for Polish poultry exports in Asia,” he added.
In 2020, China imposed a similar ban due to bird flu in Poland but lifted it in June the same year.
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