The Samoa Ministry of Agriculture has announced the temporary ban of the importation of all avian and ratite meat, eggs and live bird from Australia.
The ban includes meat products, by-products, egg products and animal reproductive materials as part of the Ministry’s efforts to stop the introduction into Samoa of avian influenza virus.
In a statement, the Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer, Tilafono David Hunter said, all import permits issued for the named products originating from Australia will be suspended until further notice.
The named products currently in transit from Australia will possibly be incinerated or reshipped back to Australia.
According to the ministry, the public notice is issued pursuant to section 33 and 58 of the Quarantine (Biosecurity) Act 2005 and in conjunction with Ministry’s efforts to stop the introduction into Samoa of avian influenza virus.
The Ministry said it appreciates the public’s cooperation to keep Samoa free from this highly pathogenic livestock virus.
The Avian Influenza is a serious poultry disease that can cause high mortality in bird species used for commercial purposes.