China Suspends Spanish Poultry Imports

China Bans Poultry Imports from Spain Due to Avian Flu  

BEIJING, August 11 (Reuters) - China’s General Administration of Customs announced in a notice dated August 7 that it has banned imports of poultry and related products from Spain due to avian influenza outbreaks. The ban aims to prevent the spread of the disease and protect China’s livestock industry and biosecurity.  

In response, Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture stated that the ban has no immediate practical impact, as poultry exports to China had not yet commenced. The two countries had signed an agreement in April to allow certain Spanish poultry products, including turkey and chicken feet, to enter the Chinese market, but applications from companies seeking to export were still under review.  

The Spanish ministry confirmed that avian flu was detected on August 4 in the Basque region of northern Spain and pledged to continue working with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to eradicate the outbreak and lift trade restrictions.  

Background:  
• The ban prohibits direct or indirect import of all poultry-derived products from Spain, including processed items that may carry pathogens.  


• Recent H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in Spain’s Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha regions prompted the decision.