The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has banned poultry meat imports from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following the outbreak of H5N8 Bird Flu strain in a Riyadh market.

 

According to a statement, the ban covers import of all kinds of domestic and wild live birds, ornamental birds, chicks, hatching eggs and non-heat-treated wastes from Saudi Arabia, as well as a ban on the import of poultry meat, non-heat-treated products and table eggs from the affected area, Riyadh, said a Wam news agency report.

 

The ministry also explained that the entry of consignments of untreated products from the affected provinces - if any - that were shipped prior to December 1 are permitted following a verification of the accompanying certificates. Thermally treated poultry products - meat and eggs - are cleared for import from Saudi Arabia, it added.

 

Bird flu strains have hit poultry flocks in several countries across the world in recent years, with some types of the disease also causing human infections and deaths.