OMAN RESTRICTS BIRD IMPORTS IN RESPONSE TO AVIAN

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000026

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI
AGRICULTURE FOR FAS/DLP, FAS/ITP, FAS/ICD
DUBAI FOR ATO (MHENNEY)
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR JBUNTIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR MU ESTH
SUBJECT: OMAN RESTRICTS BIRD IMPORTS IN RESPONSE TO AVIAN
FLU CONCERNS

REF: A. 05 STATE 216147


B. 05 MUSCAT 1752

C. 05 MUSCAT 1488

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SUMMARY
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1. In its efforts to prevent avian influenza from roosting
in Oman, the government banned, through a November 2005
Ministerial decree, the importation of pet and wild birds
from all countries. Oman issued its first ban on bird
imports from selected European and Asian countries in April
2003, and has issued subsequent decrees to ban imports from
countries where reports of avian influenza surfaced. The
government's use of import bans is part of its comprehensive
national preparedness plan for addressing avian influenza,
which includes the strict inspection of animal shipments at
border checkpoints and internal poultry farm and wild bird
flock monitoring. End Summary.


2. On November 30, Econoff delivered ref A points to Hassan
bin Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Nabhani, Director General of
Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Econoff also discussed the status of bird importation bans
with Habib al-Hasani, Director of International Relations at
the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

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BAN GROUNDS BIRD IMPORTS
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3. On November 20, 2005, the Ministry of Agriculture issued
Ministerial Decision 74/2005, which banned the importation of
pet and wild birds, their products, derivatives and wastes
from all countries. This decision, based on the
recommendation of the Sultanate's national veterinary
committee, will remain in effect so long as avian influenza
remains a concern.


4. The November decision follows a number of precautionary
measures the Sultanate had taken to restrict the importation
of birds in response to avian influenza concerns. In April
2003, the Ministry issued its first decree to ban the
importation of live wild birds and poultry, their unprocessed
products, and hatchling egg stock from the Netherlands,
Belgium, Germany, and the People's Republic of China
(including Hong Kong) as a result of avian influenza
concerns. The Ministry has issued subsequent decrees banning
bird imports from countries that have reported incidences of
avian influenza.

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PART OF NATIONAL PLAN
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5. The government's use of import bans is part of its
comprehensive national plan for keeping the Sultanate free of
avian influenza. As reported in ref B, the government is
concentrating efforts on monitoring its poultry and wild bird
populations in an effort to quickly detect and contain
outbreaks avian influenza should any appear in Oman. In this
regard, the government is regularly taking poultry blood
samples as part of its detection efforts, and has trained its
park rangers to look for signs of avian influenza in its wild
bird populations. The government is also strictly enforcing
quarantine measures at border crossings to ensure that
incoming products are avian influenza-free.
STEWART