Bird enthusiast calls for lifting of import ban on ornamental birds

Ease up on import of ornamental birds
Straits Times Forum 15 Jan 09;

AS A bird enthusiast, I am disappointed with the actions taken by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) as the regulatory body in the import of animals and birds.

The global outbreak of avian flu has led to extra precautionary measures by the AVA with regard to the import of ornamental birds and poultry. However, its actions, although well intended, have led to declining numbers of ornamental birds available in the market now.

Ever since the recent outbreak of the H5N2 virus in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, there has been no import of ornamental birds from any other country, including Malaysia and Indonesia.

Ornamental birds have been slapped with an import suspension by the AVA since early 2006.

The Animals and Birds Act states that as long as a country is free from avian flu for six months, imports can resume, yet the director-general of the AVA has suspended imports for a year in the case of Taiwan.

Furthermore, the ban on imports from Malaysia should be lifted, since it has been more than six months since any incident has been reported there. Can the AVA look into this? Its lack of action is surprising; not a single country has had its suspension lifted since the AVA first acted in 2005.

I fail to understand the need for a ban by the AVA, since it quarantines any imports and makes numerous checks before it releases the birds to importers, and subsequently to pet-shop owners.

If the AVA has to ensure that the birds are completely virus-free, then what is the purpose of having import fees, quarantines and checks?

It is not a matter of taking risks or 'protecting Singaporeans from a possible nationwide epidemic', but whether such procedures are made futile because of the ban.

Or does the AVA want to get rid of the hobby of rearing birds among Singaporeans?

I seek clarification and further action from the AVA regarding this matter.

Lim Zi Xun