The U.S. Animal and Plant Health Administration recently banned the importation of poultry meat, live birds, and all poultry by-products from or transiting Botswana to prevent the U.S. from introducing diseases to U.S. poultry farms.

In a statement announcing the ban, the agency said it had added Botswana to the list of countries banned from exporting poultry products and live birds to the United States after an outbreak of the disease was confirmed.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture has notified the public that it has added Botswana to its list of HPAI-affected areas.”

The agency said Botswana’s veterinary authorities informed him of the HPAI outbreak and forced him to ban poultry imports from Botswana. This was due to the severity of the disease, which is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens, requiring immediate action.

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Dr. John Moleki, a researcher at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said Botswana has become self-sufficient in poultry production but the industry faces many problems. He added that epidemics are one of the biggest challenges facing the industry.

“Avian influenza outbreaks in some parts of Botswana are having a negative impact on the transportation of poultry and poultry products,” said Moreki.

In response to the US ban, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Gideon Mumolawa suggested that Botswana would look into the matter.

Botswana exports poultry meat to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. This is a trade preference program that provides duty-free access to U.S. markets for eligible exports from eligible sub-Saharan African countries.

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