Imports of poultry products and raw poultry from several countries, including the United States of America and Japan, have been suspended by Singapore after an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) in those nations.
As per the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) four Japanese prefectures – Saga, Ibaraki, Saitama and Kagoshima – and several regions in the US, France, Germany, Canada, and Belgium have been included in the list which was revealed on December 8, 2023.
“In view of the outbreaks, the National Parks Board/Animal & Veterinary Service (NParks/AVS) has imposed a temporary restriction on the importation of ornamental birds, poultry and poultry products from the 10 km surveillance zone around the affected premises in the regions with effect from the respective dates as stated below,” read the statement from one of the government releases.
“Heat-treated poultry products which comply with WOAH guidelines for inactivation of AI virus will not be subjected to the restriction,” it added.
As per reports, Malaysia, the US and Brazil are Singapore’s top sources of chicken. Other poultry approved by the country includes turkey, duck, quail, and goose.