Ukraine restricts imports of meat product from Sweden, U.S. due to bird flu; animals from Iraq due to Bluetongue

MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - Ukraine has restricted imports of animal products from Sweden and the United States due to cases of bird flu in these countries, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Eastern interregional division of Ukraine's Food Safety and Consumer Protection Service, which in turn cited an order from the State Veterinary Inspector.

Ukraine banned imports of hatching eggs, birds and their products from unfavourable areas of Sweden as of January 9. An exception has been made for products that undergo treatment guaranteed to destroy the pathogen of this disease.

The same type of ban was imposed on January 8 against birds and hatching eggs from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

The Food Safety Service recalled that Ukraine has also banned imports of these products from the U.S. states of Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, Washington, California, Oregon, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Utah, South and North Dakota, Wisconsin, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, New York and Idaho.

Ukraine also banned imports of animals susceptible to Bluetongue and their genetic materials from Iraq as of January 11, an order from the State Veterinary Inspector showed.