The Ministry of Municipality and Environment, represented by the Veterinary Quarantine Division at the Animal Resources Department, is keen to strengthen the procedures for allowing any consignment of live birds to enter the border crossing points where there is an influx of consignments during the falcon import season. The MME aims at ensuring that these birds are safe and free of infectious and epidemic diseases that affect public health and livestock. These procedures include: following up on the current epidemiological status of the exporting country through the World Organisation for Animal Health website ‘OIE’ as well as continuously following up on status of such countries and requesting the necessary checks and tests for falcons from the exporting countries. Upon arrival at the various ports of the State and after obtaining approval and issuing the relevant import permits for falcons, veterinarians verify the documents, check the consignment, conduct a virtual/ laboratory examination, and then release the falcons after ensuring their safety. Once these falcons arrive at the Exhibition, their health status is examined throughout the exhibition period. Routine tests are conducted through a rapid test for Avian Influenza (H5N1) by veterinarians. Veterinarians also monitor the veterinary medicines offered by the pharmacies participating in the Exhibition in terms of their expiry dates, components and storage methods, and issue a veterinary health certificate for the falcons sold inside the Exhibition to be exported outside the State.
Source: Municipality and Environment