27 Jul 2026

Agriculture has imposed import restrictions on poultry and poultry products to protect the local poultry flocks from incursion by poultry diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu) as well as to safeguard public health.

Answering a question in Parliament on Friday, the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said the restrictions were targeted at countries, which were affected by such diseases and added that the restrictions affected all poultry types, including the rare and non-commercial chicken breeds.

Dr Dikoloti said his ministry through the Department of Veterinary Services facilitated interested farmers to source poultry from countries that were not affected by poultry diseases, through negotiation of sanitary protocols to ensure safe importation.

He said the department had in place an established automated import permit system, which was operational in line with international guidelines on animal diseases. Minister Dikoloti was responding to a question from the MP for Tonota, Mr Gaefele Sedombo who has asked the minister if the restrictions on importation of poultry products aimed at promoting national self-sufficiency also applied to rare and non-commercial chicken breeds.

He also asked the minister to state measures put in place to support the diversification and development of the poultry industry, also if the Department of Veterinary Services had plans to introduce or consider controlled permit systems to enhance genetic diversity and create new opportunities within the poultry sector. ENDS