20th Feb, 2006: COLOMBO - Sri Lanka on Monday banned the import of poultry products from India until further notice.
"We normally ban imports from any country that reports avian influenza. This is part of those steps," S.K.R. Amarasekera, Director General of Animal Production and Health, told The Hindu . Poultry products are a significant part of the Sri Lankan Food Balance Sheet. Its annual per capita consumption rose from 3.51 kg in 2000 to 4.5 kg in 2005 — among the highest in the SAARC region.
Imports from India include poultry feed, egg powder, parent birds, and a small quantity of ornamental feathers.
According to industry sources, about 80 per cent of poultry feed requirements are met by imports from India. Between five and 10 per cent of parent birds and a smaller percentage of ornamental feathers are also imported from India.
It is learnt that the option of importing poultry feed from an unaffected country was considered, but was not found to be economically viable.
