The BFFF recently received communication from Defra advising us of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Botswana.

Botswana is approved to export certain commodities susceptible to HPAI to Great Britain, as outlined in Retained Regulation 798/2008 and Retained Regulations 1069/2009 and 142/2011.

On 6^th September 2021, Botswana notified OIE of an outbreak of HPAI of subtype H5N1 in a poultry farm close to Gaborone. Therefore, the territory of Botswana cannot be considered free of HPAI and as such Botswana can no longer certify consignments of susceptible commodities for export to Great Britain.

Imports of the following commodities are suspended until further notice:

Retained EU Regulation 798/2008:

• Breeding ratites and productive ratites (model BPR)
• Day old chicks of ratites (model DOR)
• Hatching eggs of ratites (model HER)
• Meat of ratites (model RAT), including meat preparations made from meat of ratites as per Retained Commission Decision 2000/572 (Annex II model HC)

Retained EU Decision 2007/777:

• Meat products of ratites not subject to treatments B or C or D as laid down in Annex II of the Decision

Retained Commission Decision 2007/275:

• composite products containing meat products of ratites not subject to treatments B or C or D as laid down in Annex II of Decision 2007/777

Retained EU Regulations 1069/2009 and 142/2011

• Unprocessed animal by-products referred to in Regulation 1069/2009 and its implementing Regulation 142/2011 consisting of, or containing material from ratites

Defra along with the Scottish and Welsh Governments have introduced safeguarding measures to provide appropriate enforcement powers to deal with any consignments that present a risk.

• Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Botswana: declaration of special measures (England) (PDF, 19KB, 2 pages)
• Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Botswana: declaration of special measures (Scotland) (PDF, 27.7KB, 2 pages)
• Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Botswana: declaration of special measures (Wales) (PDF, 20.9KB, 2 pages), Welsh version (PDF, 21.5KB, 2 pages)

Please note that there are no HPAI related restrictions on imports of:

• Specified Pathogen Free (SPF) eggs;
• eggs (E); and
• egg products (EP).

We will keep you informed of developments as we receive them.