JEDDAH, 6 April 2007 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Water has banned the import of all sorts of birds, eggs and fodder from countries that have reported an avian flu outbreak as part of a contingency plan to prevent the spread of the deadly disease in the Kingdom.
People coming from infected countries are banned from dealing with poultry for a minimum period of 10 days on arrival in the Kingdom. The ministry is also making efforts to ensure wild birds do not enter poultry farms and fodder storages. Poultry farms are required to not rear multiple types of birds at single locations.
The ministry is also aiming to hold awareness campaigns for farmers and consumers by informing them about the disease and ways to prevent it from spreading.
Details of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water’s contingency plans were revealed during a symposium entitled “Bird Flu: Between Reality and Truth” that took place on Tuesday at the Sheikh Ismail Abu Dawood Hall of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).
Tarik Taher, president and CEO of the Al-Taher Group and a member of the Radwa Company for Food Production, spoke at the event about his experience at Radwa farms. Taher said that Radwa farms are indoors and for 25 years have implemented a strict biotic security system.
“Saudi Arabia, considered to be home for one of the most developed poultry industries in the world, complies with the strict criteria of sterilization,” he said, adding that an important step in preventing any viral, bacterial or fungal infection, including bird flu, is biotic security.
“Biotic security might be costly but it is a long term investment to save the poultry industry in the Kingdom by keeping the birds healthy and safe instead of paying for their treatment when they get infected,” Taher said.
The biotic security for poultry farms requires farms to be isolated from residential areas and kept at least three kilometers away from other farms. Vehicles are required to drive through shallow sterilized lakes before they can enter such farms. People are also not allowed to enter the farms unless necessary. Workers are required to wear special clothing, shoes and masks. This is to prevent the spread of bird flu among humans.
The speakers urged consumers to ensure the poultry products they buy are approved by HACCP certification. The symposium was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water, the Poultry Producers Association and the JCCI.
