Mexico bans poultry imports from Arkansas

MEXICO CITY, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Livestock has banned the import of poultry from the U.S. state of Arkansas, after detecting a low-risk outbreak of avian flu.

"The precaution ban is to avoid the risk of introducing the pathogenic agent into national territory," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Poultry products and its derivatives, including egg-based preparations, meat, open carcasses, pastes, viscera and chicken remains, are all on the list of the ban, which will last until further notice.

Meanwhile, imports of fertile eggs, birds up to three days of age, singing birds, ornamental birds, messenger pigeons, and prey birds traded as pets are all forbidden.

The ministry asked its staff to "increase surveillance and inspection of all commercial and tourist flights, as well as vehicles and embarkations of any type coming from the United States that try to introduce poultry products from Arkansas."

It said technical staff of both countries are working together in reviewing the case.

The trade will resume once the outbreak is controlled, the ministry said.