By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

According to the existing legal provisions in Sri Lanka, eggs cannot be imported from India or Pakistan as outbreaks of bird flu have been reported from both countries recently,  Animal Production and Health Department Director General Dr. Hemali Kothalawala said. 

Addressing the media, she said that there is no restriction on importing eggs into the country, but they can import as described according to the Animal Production and Health Act.  
“According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the country from which the animals are imported should not have reported the bird flu outbreak during the previous six months.  

“That country should give a certificate stating that their country has not had bird flu during the past six months. Later, based on that certificate, the import and export controller general would grant the permission to import the animal products,” Dr. Kothalawala said.  

According to the information received from India, the country experienced outbreaks of bird flu during the past six months.  

Therefore, no recommendations can be given by the Animal Production and Health Department to import eggs and chicken from India and Pakistan.  

However, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, and the USA are free from the bird flu and can be permitted to import eggs and chicken, because those countries used to export poultry items such as eggs, chicks and parent birds to many countries and they used to follow very high hygienic measures to protect the country from the bird flu virus, Dr. Kothalawala added.