MAR/50
WTO/SPS
MA Morocco
  • 01 - Live animals
2017-05-02
2017-03-27

Live animals (poultry)

Arrêté du ministre de l'agriculture et de la pêche maritime relatif aux mesures complémentaires et spéciales pour lutter contre l'influenza aviaire hautement pathogène (peste aviaire) (Order of the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Fisheries on supplementary and special measures to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu))

Morocco's domestic poultry population, like those in all other countries around the world, is currently at risk from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) . This sector is, however, of key importance to the national economy, covering more than 55% of the total demand for meat and 100% of the demand for table eggs.

HPAI constitutes a proven threat to public health, as the virus responsible for the disease may be transmitted to human beings and therefore give rise to a human flu pandemic if human-to-human transmission occurs.

In light of the above, the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) has developed a national programme to monitor and combat the disease. It includes a set of measures aimed at maintaining Morocco's status as a country free from HPAI, and special measures to control and eradicate the disease in the event of an outbreak in national territory.

It has become necessary to review and update the existing Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Marine Fisheries on supplementary and special measures to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The notified draft Order has been worded so as to cover the following aspects:

•  sanitary measures to be taken in the event of suspected cases of the disease;

•  sanitary measures to be taken in the event of confirmed cases of the disease; and

•  arrangements for compensating poultry owners.

Please contact switec@snv.ch