Bird flu sparks S African ban on German poultry

JOHANNESBURG, July 12 (Reuters) - South Africa said today it suspended poultry imports from Germany in response to an outbreak of a lethal strain of bird flu on a farm in the European nation.

The ban applies to live poultry, birds, meat and other products derived from poultry and birds, the Department of Agriculture said in a statement. It added that South African veterinary import permits for German poultry had been cancelled.

Products that are subjected to an internationally-accepted process that eliminates avian influenza, a virus that can be transmitted to humans, will be allowed to enter South Africa, the department said.

The move came several days after German authorities culled about 1,200 farm and pet birds around Thuringen in eastern Germany after discovering a pet goose in a home for mentally handicapped people had tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza.

The strain has killed nearly 200 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. It has been spreading across southeast Asia and is emerging as a major agricultural and public health threat in Western Europe.

Some 13 European Union nations, including Germany, had confirmed cases of bird flu last year.

South Africa's ban, however, is not likely to have a major impact on Germany's exports to South Africa, which rose some 7 percent to 6 billion rand (855 million dolars) between December 2005 and October 2006.

Poultry made up a tiny part of the trade between the two nations.

Reuters NY RS1633