Human Health Concerns Lead EU To Ban Wild Bird Trade

[Guest guest]

EU Bans Imports of Wild-Caught Birds for Pet Trade

 

WASHINGTON (Jan. 11, 2007) -- The Humane Society of the United

States/Humane Society International today commended the European

Union for adopting regulations to ban all imports of wild-caught

birds as pets. The decision by the European Commission's Standing

Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health becomes effective July

1 of this year.

 

The EU became the largest importer of wild-caught birds after the

United States banned the import of certain birds for the pet trade in

2002. The EU imports approximately 1 million of these birds every

year and even more are captured than imported. Between 40 percent and

60 percent die before they reach the marketplace because of stress

and injury during capture and transport.

 

" The Commission's decision to end this cruel and destructive trade is

important not only for protecting wild-bird populations, but also for

minimizing the possible spread of avian influenza to humans and

agricultural animals, " Teresa M. Telecky, Ph.D., director of wildlife

trade for HSUS/HSI, said. " We encourage other countries to follow the

EU's lead to ban the import of wild birds from all other countries. "

 

Birds infected with the current deadly strain of avian influenza,

H5N1, have been found in both legal and illegal trade. The threat to

human health led to the EU ban, one of the strictest responses to the

threat posed by the trade to spreading the virus. Other countries

that continue to import some wild birds for the pet trade, including

the United States, have not taken such measures.

 

In a letter early last year to the Bush Administration to help combat

the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus to the United

States, The HSUS recommended among other actions to extend the

current ban on the importation of birds from just those countries

with documented case of H5N1 in poultry to all importing countries

and to work with state and local authorities to close live bird

markets, fairs, exhibitions and swaps here.

 

Editor's note: For an understandable guide to the evolution of avian

flu and ways to help minimize the possibility of an outbreak, please

visit birdflubook.com to view or download Bird Flu: A Virus of Our

Own Hatching, a book by Michael Greger, MD, director of public health

and animal agriculture for The HSUS.

 

 

As the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States,

the largest animal protection organization in the country with nearly

10 million members and constituents, Humane Society International

addresses issues such as inhumane practices and conditions affecting

companion and farm animals, illegal trade in wildlife, threats to

endangered species, slaughter of marine mammals, and the use of

animals in research and testing. On the web at

<http://www.hsihsus.org/>www.hsihsus.org . The HSUS is a mainstream

voice for animals, with active programs in companion

animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat

protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine

protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals

through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy

and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and

has field representatives and offices across the country.On the web

at <http://www.humanesociety.org/>www.humanesociety.org

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