New Delhi, June 12 (KNN) The import of poultry and poultry products into India will now be regulated according to the order issued by Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries which was issued under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said.

In pursuance of the ruling by Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the dispute DS-430 (related to ban on imports of poultry products), India had issued a the notification on 08 July 2016 along with guidelines and provisions for import of poultry and poultry products in line with the World Organization for Animal Health and also as per the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement under WTO. 

Notification S.O. 2337(E) complies with the recommendations of the DSB in this dispute as it:

i)   allows imports of poultry and poultry products into India in accordance with the relevant international standard, i.e. the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code ("Terrestrial Code");

ii)   recognizes the concept of disease-free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence; and

iii)   provides for the process to be followed for recognition of such disease-free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence, zones/compartments in conformity with the Terrestrial Code and the SPS Agreement.

According to DGFT notification, earlier the rule on prohibition on Imports due to Avian Influenza stated that Import into India of the following live-stock and live-stock products shall be prohibited from all countries, in view of notifiable Avian Influenza. (both Highly Pathogenic notifiable Avian Influenza and Low Pathogemc notifiable Avian Influenza):

1. domestic and wild birds (excluding poultry and captive birds);
2. unprocessed meat and meat products from Avian species including wild birds (except poultry);
3. semen of domestic and wild birds (except semen of poultry).

Further, the Central Government also prohibited the import into India from the countries reporting notifiable Avian Influenza (both Highly Pathogenic notifiable Avian Influenza and Low Pathogenic notifiable Avian Influenza), the following live-stock and live-stock products, namely: (a) Live poultry and captive birds; (b) day old chicks, ducks, turkey and other newly hatched Avian species; (c) unprocessed meat and meat products from Avian species including wild birds; (d) hatching eggs; (e) egg and egg products (except Specific Pathogen Free eggs); (f) unprocessed feathers; (g) live pig; (h) pathological material and biological products from birds; (i) product of animal origin (from birds) intended for use in animal feeding or for agricultural or industrial use; (j) Semen of poultry. (KNN Bureau)