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 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶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. -------------- BAN GROUNDS BIRD IMPORTS -------------- ¶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. -------------- PART OF NATIONAL PLAN -------------- ¶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