Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HELSINKI122
2006-02-09 11:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:  

AVIAN FLU: ADDRESSING AI-RELATED IMPORT

Tags:  ETRD EAGR USTR TBIO FI 
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VZCZCXRO1291
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ
DE RUEHHE #0122/01 0401148
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091148Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1487
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HELSINKI 000122 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AGRICULTURE FOR FAS/DLP, FAS/ITP, FAS/ICD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR USTR TBIO FI
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: ADDRESSING AI-RELATED IMPORT
RESTRICTIONS ON POULTRY

REF: SECSTATE 216147

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HELSINKI 000122

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AGRICULTURE FOR FAS/DLP, FAS/ITP, FAS/ICD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR USTR TBIO FI
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU: ADDRESSING AI-RELATED IMPORT
RESTRICTIONS ON POULTRY

REF: SECSTATE 216147


1. The following is Embassy Helsinki's responses to reftel
regarding avian influenza (AI)-related import restrictions
on U.S. poultry.

--------------
POULTRY BAN
--------------


2. Finland bans the import of poultry from highly
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) affected countries, in
accordance with EU guidelines: Croatia, Turkey, Russia,
Romania, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan,
Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Korea, Thailand,
Laos, Pakistan and Vietnam. In addition, the ban was
expanded on January 1, 2006 to prohibit imports of
untreated feathers and parts thereof from Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq and Syria.


3. The European Commission extended the ban on imports of
captive live birds--other than poultry for commercial
purposes--from third countries belonging to the World
Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Regional Commission,
including the United States, until May 31, 2006.
Restrictions on the movement of birds accompanying their
owners (pet birds) from third countries, including the
United States, were also extended until May 31, 2006.

--------------
IMPORTS
--------------


4. Poultry imports to Finland from the U.S. are almost non-
existent. In 1997, the EU imposed a ban on the use of anti-
microbial treatments for sanitizing poultry carcasses,
which effectively halted U.S. poultry exports to the EU.
According to the Finnish Board of Customs, Finland imported
from the U.S. 2,100 live baby chickens (for breeding
purposes) and 330 live adult chickens (for a total value of
approximately USD 132,000) between January-November 2005.


5. In addition to the EU's ban on the use of anti-microbial
treatments, imports of poultry to Finland are also hampered
by Finland's strict salmonella regulations. In its EU
accession, Finland received a derogation allowing it to
apply stricter salmonella controls than other EU member
countries. Finland was granted additional salmonella
guarantees covering trade in fresh meat from bovines and
hogs, fresh poultry meat and table eggs which were extended

to minced meat. All consignments containing fresh meat,
meat preparations or minced meat (with the exception of
heat-treated meats) are subject to salmonella control. The
purpose of the salmonella guarantee (or Certificate of
Conformance) is to provide consumer protection. Legislation
reversing the current EU policy has not been drafted so
far.


6. In 2005, Finland imported about 1.7 million kilograms of
poultry meat, corresponding to about eight percent of total
consumption. Imported poultry comes mostly from Europe, and
Brazil. Finland is self sufficient in eggs.

--------------
DEMAND AND SUPPLY
--------------


7. There have been no changes in the demand for--or supply
and price of--poultry products in the local market due to
avian influenza concerns, according to Sirpa Rinne,
Communications Manager for Finnish Food and Drink
Industries' Federation (FFDIF). This may be due in part to
the Ministry of Agriculture's public awareness campaigns on
food safety that have resulted in high levels of consumer
confidence. Additionally, many are comforted by Finland's
hygiene requirements (and the Salmonella control program),
which they consider to be among the strictest in the world.


8. The National Food Agency of Finland has repeatedly
stated that there is no need to reduce the consumption of
poultry meat and eggs in Finland and that there is no
epidemiological evidence of avian influenza being
transmitted to humans through food. It has reiterated that
the disease is most probably contracted from live, infected
birds, rather than from poultry meat or egg consumption.
The H5N1 avian influenza virus has not been found in
Finland or in any nearby regions.


9. Only eggs produced in Finland are sold in the Finnish

HELSINKI 00000122 002 OF 003


market and no salmonella has been found in them. In poultry
meat, salmonella has been found on very rare occasions.
Finland's salmonella control program involves extensive
testing of egg and poultry production units for salmonella.
Every hen flock from which eggs are delivered for packing
is tested for salmonella several times during egg laying.
The same principles are applied to the prevention of avian
influenza. Salmonella was not found in any Finnish poultry
farms in 2005.


10. A local newspaper reported in mid January 2006 that the
French restaurant chain Sodexho limited the use of raw eggs
in food preparation in Finland because of the risk of avian
influenza. Sodexho later disputed the claim, stating that
it had instituted new guidelines on eggs due to the risk of
salmonella. Previously, breakfasts at its restaurants
included eggs which were boiled for three minutes. Now eggs
are boiled for at least five minutes. Sodexho runs about
500 restaurants in Finland. The company predominantly
operates in staff and student cafeterias in Finland.

--------------
ANIMAL DISEASE
--------------


11. Finland has managed to keep the animal disease
situation under control exceptionally well. In the past 30
years, no animal diseases classified as dangerous by OIE
have been detected in Finnish livestock. The responsibility
for keeping Finland free from contagious animal diseases
belongs totally to the farmers and the food production
chain. In order to reduce the risk of diseases in animal
and food production, voluntary practices have been adopted.


12. The Association for Animal Disease Prevention (ETT) was
founded in July 1994 to provide guidance on risk management
to farmers and importers and to regulate the import of
livestock, semen, embryos and animal feed. In practice, the
members of the Association enter into agreements with their
producers. In the meat producing sector, for example, the
producer undertakes to deliver only animals born in
Finland, or imported animals supervised by the Association.

--------------
AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS
--------------


13. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is preparing--
in cooperation with other ministries--a comprehensive Avian
influenza preparedness plan that will be presented to the
Permanent Secretaries' meeting by February 15, 2006.
Additionally, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is
preparing a comprehensive preparedness plan in case of a
human influenza pandemic that will be presented to the
Permanent Secretaries' meeting by March 13, 2006.
Preparedness rehearsals will be organized on March 9 and
April 20.

--------------
NEW GUIDELINES
--------------


14. The threat of avian influenza is leading to new
guidelines to poultry farmers in Finland. Under the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry regulations that are
under preparation, free-range chickens would have to be
kept inside in 160 municipalities that have been identified
as risk-zones, during the annual spring migration of birds
to Finland (March 15 to May 31). The new guidelines are
based on EU Commission decisions 2005/731/EU, 2005/734/EU,
2005/745/EU, 2005/855/EU.


15. The feeding places of outdoor birds, such as ostriches,
would have to be constructed in a manner that keeps them
separated from wild birds. The aim of the regulations is to
prevent interaction between wild birds and poultry, in
order to minimize the risk of the spread of the avian
influenza virus to domesticated birds.


16. Sirpa Kiviruusu of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry noted that risk areas include poultry farms that
are near places where migratory birds convene and rest. She
pointed to locations along Finland's coast as well as areas
in eastern Finland where there are duck and goose farms.
The new rules, which will come into force in March when the
spring migration begins, will have the greatest impact on
free-range chicken farms, where the chickens are usually
let outside whenever the weather permits. Turkeys and
chickens will be mostly unaffected by the precautions as

HELSINKI 00000122 003 OF 003


they are generally raised indoors. Ostriches, which need
space to run, are to be provided food in protected
enclosures.


17. Veterinary officials will be given detailed directions
on how to act in the event of an avian influenza outbreak
or another easily spread poultry disease. All provinces
have corresponding province-specific directions. The
preparedness plan includes guidelines for veterinary
treatment.


18. Post has provided Ref talking points to the Ministry of
Agriculture.

HYATT