Azerbaijan has introduced temporary restrictions on the import of meat and meat products, as well as livestock and poultry, from several countries where avian influenza and other infectious diseases have been reported.
The Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AFSA) told Vesti Baku that the decision was taken in response to official notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
According to WOAH data, Aujeszky’s disease has been detected in the Centre–Loire Valley region of France. Foot-and-mouth disease has been reported in Sokoto State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in Sukhbaatar Province of Mongolia. In addition, peste des petits ruminants has been identified in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.
Cases of bluetongue disease have also been recorded in the administrative areas of Saint Martin, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour and Saint Brelade on the island of Jersey, part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, Newcastle disease has been detected in Slovakia’s Prešov Region, while highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland and in Tuscany, Italy.
“In order to protect the territory of the republic from the spread of these infectious diseases, AFSA, guided by the zoning principle and the provisions of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, has temporarily restricted the import of relevant products from the affected regions,” the agency said in a statement.
AFSA added that the State Customs Committee has been formally notified to ensure the implementation of the necessary control measures.
