China has banned imports of poultry and related products from the European country Spain due to an outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, the Chinese customs administration said in a notice published on its website on August 7, Reuters reported.
According to a statement from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, the impact of the ban was limited because poultry meat exports from Spain to China had not yet begun.
A protocol between the two countries for the export of certain poultry products, including turkey and chicken feet, from Spain to China was signed in Madrid in April, and applications from companies wishing to export are still being studied, the ministry said, according to the report.
The ministry confirmed the detection of an outbreak of bird flu by the country’s authorities in the northern Basque region of Spain on August 4, according to Reuters. Authorities said they would continue to work with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) to eradicate the outbreak and lift restrictions.
According to The Guardian, there have been more than 950 cases of the influenza A virus H5N1 reported worldwide since 2003, and 49% of patients have died.