ICA temporarily suspends poultry imports from Brazil
In a decisive move to protect national poultry health, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) has temporarily suspended the importation of poultry products from Brazil. This preventive measure comes in response to a recent outbreak of Newcastle disease in a commercial poultry establishment in Anta Gorda, located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects birds, causing significant economic losses in the poultry industry. The outbreak in Brazil has prompted the country to declare a state of zoosanitary emergency, aiming to control and eradicate the disease through stringent measures, including the culling of infected birds and thorough disinfection of affected areas.
The suspension, effective immediately, applies to all poultry products and by-products that could potentially transmit Newcastle disease.This includes live birds, eggs, and poultry meat originating from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The ICA has halted the issuance of zoosanitary import documents for these products, effectively blocking their entry into Colombia.
Juan Fernando Roa, the former general manager of the ICA, emphasized the importance of this measure in protecting the national poultry industry. “This suspension is crucial to safeguarding the health of our poultry production and protecting human health. By intensifying our efforts in prevention, surveillance, and control, we aim to ensure that Newcastle disease does not establish itself in our country,” Roa stated.
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Impact on the poultry industry
The temporary suspension is expected to have significant implications for both Colombian and Brazilian poultry industries. Brazil is one of the world’s largest poultry exporters, and the state of Rio Grande do Sul is a major production area. The suspension could disrupt supply chains and affect trade relations between the two countries.
In Colombia, poultry producers are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious cases of Newcastle disease or other officially controlled diseases to the ICA. The institute has called on all stakeholders to cooperate in maintaining the country’s poultry health status and preventing any potential outbreaks.
Future steps and risk assessment
The duration of the suspension will depend on the results of a comprehensive risk assessment conducted by the ICA.This assessment will evaluate the effectiveness of Brazil’s measures to control and eradicate the outbreak. Based on the findings, the ICA will determine whether to lift, modify, or maintain the suspension.
The ICA’s actions are in accordance with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which allows countries to implement temporary measures to protect animal and plant health while ensuring that these measures are scientifically justified and not more trade-restrictive than necessary.
Conclusion
The ICA’s temporary suspension of poultry imports from Brazil underscores the importance of proactive measures in protecting national poultry health. By responding swiftly to the outbreak in Brazil, the ICA aims to prevent the spread of Newcastle disease and maintain Colombia’s disease-free status, ensuring the continued health and productivity of its poultry industry.
