S'pore, KL freeze poultry plans<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Singapore and Malaysia have postponed plans to import poultry
\nproducts from Indonesia amid rising worries over the current
\noutbreak of bird flu in the Asian region, according to a
\ngovernment official.<\/p>\n
"They were in the process of examining our poultry industry,
\nchecking the slaughter houses and disease prevention system. With
\nthe current bird flu scare, the examination process might take a
\nlonger time," director of the veterinary community of the
\nMinistry of Agriculture, Bachtiar Moerad, told The Jakarta Post
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
He said that the two countries postponed their import plans
\nfollowing the death of thousands of chickens on Bali Island over
\nthe past three months.<\/p>\n
But Bachtiar said that the death was caused by the Newcastle
\ndisease, not bird flu, which has hit a number of countries like
\nVietnam, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Thailand confirmed on Friday that there were bird flu cases in
\nthe country, and the government decided to suspend all chicken
\nexports.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar, however, said that despite the bird flu scare
\ntriggered by the Bali case, exports to South Korea and Japan
\nwould continue.<\/p>\n
"Japan has asked for clarification about the cause of death of
\nthe chickens here. We assured them it was Newcastle disease," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that the government would inform other countries as
\nwell that so far Indonesia is free of bird flu.<\/p>\n
He also said that the ministry would also confiscate and
\ndestroy all bird flu vaccine smuggled into the country.<\/p>\n
Early this week, the ministry sent a team to China to learn
\nabout bird flu. However, Bachtiar said the result of the visit
\nwas not yet available.<\/p>\n
Separately, chairman of the Indonesian Poultry Breeders
\nAssociation, Anton J. Supit, told the Post that Indonesian
\nchicken exports were still relatively small, representing less
\nthan 1 percent of the total production of about one million tons
\nper year amid huge domestic demand.<\/p>\n
Most of the exported Indonesian chicken are chicken fillets
\nand nuggets.<\/p>\n
"Most of our poultry production is still absorbed by the
\ndomestic market," said Anton.<\/p>\n
Asked on measures should be taken by the breeders, Anton said
\nbiosecurity measures, such as increased sanitation around the
\npoultry farms, should be taken.<\/p>\n
"And both breeders and consumers should not panic or over
\nreacted to the outbreak," he said.<\/p>\n
Bird flu first appeared in December last year in South Korea.
\nIt spread later to other countries within the region such as
\nVietnam and Japan. In Vietnam, the disease has spread to human
\nand claimed 13 lives.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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