Ban on import of live birds into J&K lifted: Choudhary

Srinagar, Jan 22: Ban on import of live birds, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat, for any purpose into the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir from non infected areas has been lifted.

Principal Secretary to UT Government Naveen Kumar Choudhary said that in view of stringent surveillance mechanism in place for containment and spread of Bird Flu in the Country and the instructions as conveyed by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, there will be no ban on import of live birds including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat for any purpose into the UT sourced from non-infected areas and beyond the 10 kilometers radius of Bird Flu infected zone with effect from January 19, 2021.

However, it is mandatory for the importers and Suppliers to provide a Certificate from District Veterinary Officer or Chief Animal Husbandry Officer of the concerned district of the sourced State and UT that the source of poultry is not from any infected area or suspected area and also not within 10 kilometers radius of notified Bird Flu infected zone.

Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir will setup a robust surveillance centre at Lower Munda to lift samples from each vehicle carrying poultry for testing.

He said the Director Animal Husbandry Jammu will further strengthen the surveillance system including testing of samples from each consignment at Lakhanpur.

Further, all Chief Animal Husbandry Officers will make a system to visit poultry importers, poultry farms and sale points on daily basis for surveillance purpose, Mr Choudhary said.

Import of poultry was banned on January 8 under Section 10 of the Prevention and Control of infectious and contagious Diseases Act, 2009. Complete ban on the import of live birds, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat, for any purpose into the Union Territory of J&K with immediate effect was imposed till January 14.

The order had said that in the wake of spread of bird flu and as a measure of abundant precaution, the whole of J&K was being declared as a ‘Controlled Area.

Kashmir valley is importing poultry birds and eggs worth several hundred crores of rupees annually from different northern states, particularly Punjab. Ban on import had badly hit the poultry dealers in Punjab.