ABU DHABI // The Ministry of Environment and Water has temporarily banned the import of live poultry, wild and pet birds, from Russia to prevent the spread of avian flu into the country.
The ban includes the birds' by-products and offal, but excludes cooked meats, reported Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National,
It follows confirmation that chickens, geese and ducks in southern Russia were infected with the highly pathogenic virus.
The decision was made by Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahed, Minister of Environment and Water, on October 3.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
