The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has listed Egypt as free of bird flu for the first time in 14 years, Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land reclamation Sayed El-Kosayer announced on Sunday.
El-Kosayer also explained that Egypt had now met international standards to resume poultry exports after a suspension decision were taken since the outbreak of the bird flu in 2006.
Egypt has joined an enterprise system for countries without the bird flu, the minister added, saying that it would help Egyptian firms export poultry products, including one-day chicks, eggs, and big chickens.
The firms that have adopted the system are located in Ismalia’s Sarabium, Beheira’s Wadi al-Natrun, and the Western Cairo-Assiut Road, he said.
The OIE’s latest move will encourage more poultry firms in Egypt to submit requests to enter the enterprise system, increasing exports and thus the country’s foreign revenues, El-Kosayer said.