Trinidad’s ban on poultry products from Guyana ill-advised and premature -GLDA

Although Guyana does not export poultry and poultry products to the twin-island Republic, the Agriculture Ministry in Trinidad and Tobago late last week announced a ban on the importation of all poultry products from Guyana, whether raw or cooked.

Trinidad’s ban on poultry products from Guyana ill-advised and premature -GLDA

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) has flagged the ban on the import of poultry products from Guyana by Trinidad and Tobago as “ill-advised” and “premature”.

Although Guyana does not export poultry and poultry products to the twin-island Republic, the Agriculture Ministry in Trinidad and Tobago late last week announced a ban on the importation of all poultry products from Guyana, whether raw or cooked.

The GLDA in a statement said it considers the advisory to be ill-advised as neither the sale, nor consumption, of poultry meat poses any health risks.

The GLDA said it wishes to assure the general public that the issue with the duck disease, which has been suspected to be but has not been confirmed as, Duck Hepatitis Virus, has been contained and restricted to six duck farms on the coast of Guyana. 

“Measures implemented, including the closure of our hatchery, the only one in Guyana that hatches duck eggs commercially, have assisted in containing the disease.  The disease has not manifested itself in the other poultry sectors chicken, turkey and Guinea bird, and has only been observed in ducklings between the ages of 3 to 15 days old”, the statement said.

The Guyana Ministry of Agriculture said it would like to assure the general public that it is safe to consume all poultry products.

According to the Ministry, while a disease incidence report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) may elicit a country response, the Ministry is disappointed at the “premature and excessive response of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries of Trinidad and Tobago which has placed a ban on all poultry products, raw and cooked, coming from Guyana”.

The GLDA said it continues to perform and uphold its responsibility and mandate to provide wholesome meat and meat products to the consuming public.

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