The Central Government taking into consideration the requirements under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of World Organization for Animal Health, makes the following provisions to regulate the import of poultry and poultry products namely the provisions relating to import of poultry and poultry products upon occurrence of avian influenza and Recognition of Pest or Disease-Free Areas and Areas of Low Pest or Disease Prevalence
- Import of poultry and poultry products upon occurrence of avian influenza– (1) The import of poultry and poultry products into India shall be allowed from the country, zone or compartment free from avian influenza in accordance with the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of World Organization for Animal Health and subject to fulfilment of requirements in paragraph 3 of this notification. (2) The avian influenza status of a country, zone or compartment shall be determined on the basis of the following criteria, namely:- (a) Avian influenza is notifiable in the whole country; an ongoing avian influenza awareness programme is in place; and all notified suspect occurrences of avian influenza are subjected to field and, where applicable, laboratory investigations; (b) appropriate surveillance is in place to demonstrate the presence of infection in the absence of clinical signs in poultry, and the risk posed by birds other than poultry; which may be achieved through an avian influenza surveillance programme maintained in accordance with the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of World Organization for Animal Health; and (c) considering all epidemiological factors for avian influenza occurrence and their historical perspective. (d) most recent status of the exporting country/ zone/ compartment as reported in World Organization for Animal Health. (3) A country, zone or compartment may be considered free from avian influenza when it has been shown that infection with avian influenza viruses in poultry has not been present in the country, zone or compartment for the past twelve months, based on surveillance in accordance with the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of World Organization for Animal Health. (4) If infection has occurred in poultry in a previously free country, zone or compartment, avian influenza free status can be regained,- (a) In the case of infections with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses, three months after a stamping-out policy (including disinfection of all affected establishments) is applied, provided that surveillance in accordance with the provisions of the Terrestrial Code of World Organization of Animal Health has been carried out during that three-month period. (b) In the case of infections with low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses, poultry may be kept for slaughter for human consumption subject to conditions specified in the Terrestrial Code of World Organization of Animal Health or a stamping-out policy may be applied and in either case, three months after the disinfection of all affected establishments, providing that surveillance in accordance with the Terrestrial Code has been carried out during that three-month period.
- Recognition of Pest or Disease-Free Areas and Areas of Low Pest or Disease Prevalence- (i) The adaptation to the sanitary and phytosanitary characteristics of the area of the exporting country and the determination of pest or disease free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the guidelines issued by the Central Government. (ii) For recognition of pest or disease free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence, the appropriate authority of the exporting country shall make a written request along with necessary evidence to the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in the Government of India.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
