ISLAMABAD (February 12 2004): The Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday issued an SRO which said that the government has imposed ban, with immediate effect, on import of poultry and poultry products from 11 countries.

The countries included China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Laos.

The SRO said that this decision was taken on account of avian influenza H5NI strain, and the import will not be allowed till further order.

The order said:

"The SRO 90 (1) 2004: In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Imports and Export (Control) Act 1950 (XXIX of 1950), the federal government is pleased to direct that the following further amendment shall be made in the Import Trade and Procedure Order 2000".

It said that in the aforesaid order in paragraph 6 after sub-sub-paragraph (20) a new paragraph for the amendment in the Act shall be added.

Courtesy Business Recorder