AVA suspends poultry and egg imports from Selangor
Posted: 06 June 2007 1856 hrs

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SINGAPORE : The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has suspended poultry and egg imports from the Malaysian state of Selangor.

The move came after the AVA was informed by Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services of an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in chickens in a village household in Sungei Buluh, Selangor.

However, the AVA said poultry imports from the disease-free zones of Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Perak would not be affected by this suspension.

This is in line with the established protocol between the veterinary authorities of the two countries for poultry imports from disease-free zones in Malaysia.

The AVA said the suspension of poultry imports from Selangor was not expected to affect supplies significantly.

Malaysia supplies 3.6 million poultry and 83.7 million eggs per month to Singapore.

However, imports from Selangor constitute only about six percent of the poultry and one percent of the egg imports from Malaysia.

The AVA said it would continue to remain on high alert and work closely with its Malaysian counterpart to monitor the development of the disease situation to ensure that poultry and eggs imported from Malaysia do not compromise public and animal health.

Speaking to Channel NewsAsia, the Eggs Import Association said it does not expect prices to be seriously affected.

At most, those who get their supply from Selangor may raise prices by half a cent or one cent. - CNA/ch