China News Service, December 8 According to the website of the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs jointly issued the "Announcement on Preventing the Introduction of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza from Belgium" (hereinafter referred to as the "Announcement") on the 7th.
The "Announcement" requires that it is prohibited to import poultry and related products directly or indirectly from Belgium.
According to the "Announcement", Belgian officials have recently notified the World Organization for Animal Health that an H5N5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic has occurred in a commercial broiler farm in its territory.
In order to protect the safety of our country’s animal husbandry and prevent the spread of the epidemic, in accordance with the "Customs Law of the People's Republic of China", the "Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China" and other relevant laws and regulations, the following is hereby announced:
First, it is forbidden to import poultry and related products directly or indirectly from Belgium (derived from unprocessed poultry or products that may still transmit disease despite being processed).
Second, it is forbidden to send or bring poultry and products from Belgium into the country.
Once found, they will be returned or destroyed.
The third is that if poultry and products from Belgium are found on entry ships, aircrafts and other means of transport, they will be sealed for storage, and they may not be unsealed or used during their stay or operation in my country without customs permission.
The waste and swill shall be treated in a harmless manner under the supervision of the customs and shall not be discarded without authorization.
Fourth, the illegal entry of poultry from Belgium and their products intercepted by border defense and other departments will be destroyed under the supervision of the customs.
Fifth, anyone who violates the above regulations will be dealt with by the customs in accordance with the "Customs Law of the People's Republic of China", the "Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China" and the relevant provisions of its implementing regulations.
Sixth, all customs, animal disease prevention and control agencies at all levels, and animal health supervision agencies shall respectively comply with the relevant provisions of the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People’s Republic of China. Work closely together to do a good job in quarantine, epidemic prevention and supervision.
The "Announcement" shall be implemented from the date of its release.