RIYADH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture says a mechanism to import live birds will be effective after the ministry lifts ban on live birds, except ducks, geese and some species of water birds.
The director of animal and plant quarantine at the ministry, Osama bin Abdullah Al-Saleh, said the importer of live birds needs to fill out an application and submit it to the administration of animal and plant quarantine at the ministry. The application should contain all relevant data related to these birds, such as type, scientific name, number, country of origin and port of entry in the Kingdom.
Ornamental bird species on the list of CITES international trade agreement cannot be imported as they are under the threat of extinction. The list is available on the organization’s website, www.cites.org.
He pointed out that if the birds are not listed on the CITES list, import permission will be provided by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Directorate.
Al-Saleh said the required health conditions for live birds stipulate that they should be free of the bird flu virus and any other infectious disease for the preceding 12 months. Birds should have been raised in an area that is free from bird flu. The shipment will be held at approved locations by the relevant authorities in the country of origin, and if they don’t show symptoms of bird flu or any other infectious disease during the quarantine period, they can be shipped to the Kingdom.
Birds should be tested clinically 14 days before they are shipped to the Kingdom to make sure they are free from the bird flu virus, reported a local publication.
Govt details live bird import procedure
Govt details live bird import procedure
