International trade: Customer Information Notes - GEN/08/169
UK Trade Restrictions due to Avian Influenza (AI)
This Customer Information Note provides an update on trade issues following the outbreak of Avian Influenza in Banbury on 3 June 2008.
Background
Customer Information Notes GEN 08/93, GEN 08/94 and GEN 08/95 issued on 4, 5 and 6 June 2008 respectively explained the background to the UK avian influenza outbreak which occurred on 3 June 2008 and the subsequent trade issues. CINs GEN 08/98 and GEN 08/102 set out the conditions for release of export health certificates for the period up to 20 November 2008.
UK official freedom from Notifiable Avian Influenza (NAI) under OIE rules is restored today on 20 November 2008. This is 3 months after the completion of the final cleansing and disinfection of the premises involved.
We expect the resumption of official OIE freedom to greatly facilitate efforts by Defra and industry to resume trade with a number of third countries. However we cannot guarantee that trading partners will automatically resume trade with UK exporters and it remains the responsibility of the exporter to ensure that their consignments will be accepted.
Export Health Certificates for poultry products, poultry meat and hatching eggs, which contain conditions that can be met and where no ban is in place, may be released upon request for use at the exporters’ own risk.
Export Health Certificates for live birds which contain conditions that can be met may be released upon receipt of positive confirmation from the third country that the consignment will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the exporter to obtain this confirmation. Such confirmation from the third country authorities is considered to be:
- a letter or email from the relevant veterinary authority confirming that they will accept the consignment;
- a letter or email from the British Embassy or British High Commission reporting that the relevant veterinary authority has confirmed to them that they will accept the consignment;
- an official web-site of the relevant veterinary authority publishing conditions under which they will accept a consignment of live birds; or
- a valid import permit for the consignment issued after the June 3 avian influenza outbreak from the relevant veterinary authority.
Exporters should contact their local Animal Health Office or Central Operations, Carlisle, depending on their location, to request release of certificates. Exporters are asked to ensure that any conditions contained within the confirmation documents provided match those in the Export Health Certificate agreed before submitting them to their local Animal Health office or Central Operations, Carlisle. Once the Export Health Certificate is released it will remain available for general use. These measures will be reviewed in due course.
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 the address below.
Further Enquiries
If you have a query concerning exports or this CIN please contact your local Animal Health office.
Page published: 20 November, 2008