The Poultry Association of Zambia ( PAZ) has expressed concern over the temporary banning on the importation of poultry and related products by the government out of concern that bird flu might be spread to the country, local media reported on Monday.

PAZ chairperson Mathews Ngoma was cited by the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) as saying that while the move was necessary and well-meant the non-categorizing of the banned poultry would work against the whole industry in the country.

Ngoma said the government should have first consulted with the veterinary department and other stakeholders in the poultry industry to reach a consensus on which products to ban.

He said it was possible for government to allow importation of poultry products as long as they were coming from bird flu free countries.

However, Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) executive secretary Muyunda Ililonga welcomed the ban, saying it was timely and called for enhanced sensitization of public on the bird flu pandemic.

Ililonga said while the ban would affect one of the consumer delicacies, the public need to be aware of the disease and what measures they should put in place to protect themselves.

Last Friday, the Zambian government temporarily banned the importation of poultry and other poultry products from entering the country in view of the bird flu affecting some parts of Asia and Europe.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concerns earlier that migratory birds could carry the lethal H5N1 bird virus from Europe to Africa.

A number of countries in the continent have already taken precautionary measures such as bird surveillance, with countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Congo, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya having already banned imports of poultry from parts of Asia affected by bird flu as early as end of October.

Source: Xinhua