On 09 December the World Trade Organization (WTO) circulated its Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) / Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) notifications - G/SPS/N/ZAF/72
The circulation contains South Africa’s notification of the imposition of import restrictions on live birds and products derived from birds from Sweden to South Africa because of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
On 18 November Sweden reported an outbreak of H5N8 highly pathogenic HPAI to the OIE. It is necessary for South Africa to prevent the entry of HPAI into the country. The importation from Sweden of live birds as well as their products, which have not sufficiently been treated to inactivate the avian influenza virus, has been suspended with immediate effect.
Story by: Riaan de Lange
