Greens calling for a clamp on poultry imports

New Zealand should follow the example of the European Union and ban all imports of poultry products from countries affected by bird flu, Green MP Sue Kedgley said yesterday.

The EU had halted all imports of poultry meat and products from Thailand after it had confirmed two human cases of the disease.

It has also halted imports of exotic pet birds from Southeast Asia in response to the worsening crisis in the region.

The avian flu virus, which can cross to humans and has sparked fears of a Sars-like epidemic, has spread to 10 Asian countries and killed at least eight people in Thailand and Vietnam.

All of the human victims are believed to have caught the disease from contact with sick chickens.

"The exceptional disease situation in several Asian countries and the potential serious consequences related to the specific avian influenza virus strains made it necessary to suspend imports of birds as a precautionary measure," the European Commission said.

Ms Kedgley said New Zealand imported more than 100,000 tonnes of poultry products last year and more than a quarter came from countries affected by the outbreak of bird flu.

China, Hong King, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam were all suffering outbreaks and were all countries from which we imported poultry products.

"Of particular concern are products such as skin, feathers and down which are not sterilised," she said.

"The Europeans have recognised the huge potential danger of the rapidly mutating virus and have introduced precautionary measures and we should too."

- NZPA, REUTERS