The Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs is reminding the public that there is a ban on the importation of poultry and pork products and live pork and poultry from the Dominican Republic (DR) into the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The ban was implemented in 2008 as a result of outbreaks of a low pathogenic strain of avian influenza (H5N2) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) in the DR, and has remained in place due to the inability of that country to provide evidence to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that it is disease free. The OIE is the international agency with responsibility for monitoring animal diseases worldwide.
The Dominican Republic first confirmed that cases of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus in 2007. On February 6, 2008 officials in the DR reported the outbreak and submitted their findings to the OIE. For public health reasons, the TCI must uphold the ban since the OIE has not been able to confirm that the DR is free of H5N2 (the strain of the bird flu found there) or the Classical Swine Fever.
International rules require that countries that have reported outbreaks of serious animal health diseases must have their meat processing facilities, livestock farms and laboratories inspected and ratified by the OIE. This endorsement provides importing countries with standards on which to allow importation of products from exporting nations since animal diseases are a threat to human and livestock health.
The Animal Health Division has also instituted requirements that if adhered to, should allow for safe importation of animal products into the TCI.
In 2010, the TCIG initiated contact with various agencies with a view to reviewing the situation with the DR because of the traditional trading relationship between that country and the Turks and Caicos. However the situation remains. Due to the high risk of contamination, however, residents are being urged not to buy pork or poultry products or live pigs and poultry from the Dominican Republic and importers are being reminded that these products will not be given clearance for landing until such time as the TCI obtains confirmation that the ban has been lifted.
