Eu To Extend Thai Poultry Ban Until End Year

EU to extend Thai poultry ban until end year

BRUSSELS: -- The European Union looks set to extend its ban on Thai poultry imports until the end of the year as Asia cleans up after the bird flu outbreak, officials said on Thursday, predicting a decision next week.

Fresh and frozen Thai poultry products would remain barred from the 25-nation bloc until December 15. The ban on Thai poultry imports and a halt in the rare bird trade with Asian states was supposed to expire on August 15.

"We will take a decision next week," said an EU official.

The highly contagious bird flu disease rampaged across Asia at the beginning of the year, killing 24 people and leading to the slaughter of millions of chicken. It devastated poultry industries in several countries, including Thailand, the world's number four chicken exporter.

Bangkok is still fighting the disease and its produce has been off European supermarket shelves since January this year. The EU is the Asian state's number two destination after Japan for poultry exports.

--Reuters 2004-07-02