HPAI: EU reauthorises imports of poultry and game bird meat and products from Argentina
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EU reauthorises imports of poultry and game bird meat and products from Argentina
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1664 of 25 August 2023 amending Annexes V, XIV and XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Argentina, the United Kingdom and the United States in the lists of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry and fresh meat of poultry and game birds
Update
The EU has reauthorised imports of poultry and game bird meat and products from Argentina because the country has demonstrated the absence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection in the populations at risk.
Impacted Products
poultry, game bird meat and products
What is changing?
On 10 August 2023, Argentina submitted updated information about the measures it has taken to prevent the further spread of HPAI outbreaks declared in February. The European Commission has concluded that HPAI outbreaks have been cleared and that there is no longer any risk associated with exports of poultry fresh meat and products from Argentina to the EU.
Regulation 2021/404, Annex XIV, Part 1, Section B is amended accordingly.
Why?
After imports of poultry and game bird meat and products from Argentina were suspended in February 2023, the country has implemented measures to prevent further spread of HPAI through adequate cleaning and disinfection in affected establishments, and a surveillance programme demonstrating the absence of infection in the populations at risk.
Timeline
Date of publication: 29 August 2023.
Date of application: 30 August 2023.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
Argentina can export fresh poultry meat and game birds and their products to the EU with no restriction from 30 August 2023.
Recommended Actions
Monitoring and preventing the spread of diseases is key for exports. Exporters should follow the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), which gives the rules for prevention, monitoring, and control for each disease.
Background
The EU Animal Health Law (Regulation 2016/429) establishes principles and rules for the prevention and control of certain diseases in animals kept by humans (including farm animals, fish, and aquaculture), wild animals, and animal products.
Delegated Regulation 2020/692 supplements Regulation 2016/429 regarding animal health requirements for exports to the EU. Non-EU countries (or part of their territories) wishing to export animal products to the EU must comply with the EU animal health requirements.
These countries or regions must be listed in Implementing Regulation 2021/404 for each commodity to be exported to the EU. The list is regularly updated, for example in the event of an outbreak of a notifiable disease, or if there is an improvement in the animal health situation in a country.
Resources
Online resources from the European Commission:
World Organisation for Animal Health: Terrestrial Animal Health Code
The procedure for non-EU countries to apply for listing is described at the end of the following factsheets:
Sources