AVIAN FLU UPDATE: POULTRY CONSUMPTION LAGS

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 004929 SIPDIS USDA FOR FAS/OFSTS, DLP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD IZ USTR SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU UPDATE: POULTRY CONSUMPTION LAGS DESPITE END OF IMPORT BAN REF: A) BAGHDAD 4823, B) STATE 216147 ¶1. SUMMARY: From November 26-30, Embassy Agriculture Attache and Senior Agricultural Advisor visited Kurdish governorates and met with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Agriculture to follow up on U.S. poultry imports since the lifting of the import ban on poultry (ref A). According to private sector sources, consumption of poultry in Iraq has decreased 25 percent since the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Turkey. Post has disseminated widely the information provided in reftel B to relevant Iraqi officials. END SUMMARY. ¶2. During Iraq's recent import prohibition on poultry, the information included in reftel A was provided to all relevant GOI ministries and to Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) officials -- the latter having direct control of the major point of entry with Turkey at Ibrahim Khalil (aka Habur Gate). (NOTE: The information provided urged compliance with World Organization for Animal Health and World Trade Organization protocols. These emphasize that all actions taken to protect Iraq from avian influenza should be based on sound science and that, as an AI-free country, products from the U.S. pose no risk to either human or animal health. END NOTE.) ¶3. From November 26-30, Embassy Agriculture Attache and Senior Agricultural Advisor visited the Kurdish governorates. On November 27, they met with the KRG Minister of Agriculture to follow up on the poultry import ban, again stressing the points provided by reftel A. The trip also included a short visit to the Ibrahim Khalil border complex, where Mission officers met with the facility director and the principal animal quarantine officer. The KRG officials all knew of U.S. concerns regarding the import ban and agreed to work closely with the Mission in addressing any related issues in the future. ¶4. Although security conditions make it difficult to gauge effectively the impact of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) situation on domestic poultry consumption, private sector trade contacts indicate that consumption has fallen 25 percent since the HPAI finding in Turkey and the subsequent closing of the border, which received extensive local media coverage. While in Kurdistan, however, the Embassy officers visited a modern supermarket where they noted Brazilian poultry products (frozen whole birds and processed products) on sale. Traders handling U.S. poultry products indicate their major market in Iraq is the Baghdad area. The traders with whom the Mission has communicated all agree that increased promotion of poultry is needed. ¶5. Post appreciates the additional background provided in reftel B and will continue to monitor the situation. KHALILZAD