Strict rules on import of ornamental birds into Singapore

Straits Times Forum 22 Jan 09;

I REFER to last Thursday's letter by Mr Lim Zi Xun, 'Ease up on import of ornamental birds'.

While Singapore has remained free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (commonly known as bird flu) since the emergence and spread of the disease worldwide, bird flu outbreaks in the region pose a constant threat to our local poultry and bird farms, as well as to public health. We have to maintain our vigilance and strengthen our defences to prevent an incursion of bird flu in Singapore.

As part of our measures to keep out bird flu, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) allows only import of birds, poultry and their products from countries that are free from bird flu.

These risk management measures in regulating bird imports are consistent with international standards set by the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE).

Countries affected by bird flu are allowed to resume exporting to Singapore only when they have successfully eradicated the disease.

As wild birds are known to carry the bird flu virus, pre-export isolation of ornamental birds and testing for bird flu in the source country are also required to mitigate the risk of introducing an infected bird into Singapore.

In the case of Taiwan, cited by Mr Lim, an import suspension was imposed in January 2004 due to a bird flu outbreak. The suspension was subsequently lifted in June 2004 when Taiwan established freedom from bird flu. From 2006 to last year, there were 17 shipments of birds from Taiwan.

However, AVA re-imposed the import suspension last year following a bird flu outbreak in Kaohsiung.

AVA will review the import suspension in due course when the Taiwanese authorities inform us of the elimination of the disease and provide satisfactory results of surveillance in support of freedom from bird flu.

We would also like to clarify that imports of live poultry and frozen poultry products from Malaysia originate from AVA-accredited bio-secured farms and processing establishments located in bird flu disease-free zones in Malaysia.

However, unlike poultry imports, ornamental birds imported from Malaysia in the past were generally wild caught birds. As wild birds are free-flying and not confined to disease-free zones, AVA has not allowed the resumption of imports of ornamental birds from Malaysia.

AVA's risk management measures will allow Singaporeans to enjoy keeping ornamental birds as a hobby while not compromising public health.

Goh Shih Yong
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
For Chief Executive Officer
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority