Thai chicken off the menu again

The European Commission was accused of stirring up panic on Friday when it decided to ban Thai poultry imports because of fears over a deadly bird bug.

The decision comes despite assurances from the World Health Organization that only live chicken can put humans at risk.

The EU does not import live poultry from Thailand but it is the world’s second largest importer of frozen Thai chicken, after Brazil, importing 128,000 tonnes in 2003.

A commission spokesman said on Friday that “the commission has suspended with immediate effect all poultry meat and poultry meat products to the EU”.

“This applies to all poultry slaughtered this year.”

He added that the commission wanted "to be really on the safe side". 

"We cannot exclude the risk from frozen chicken, that is why we have taken these measures."

Heat treated meat is excluded.

Two boys were infected by the ‘avian influenza’ in Thailand this week.

The decision will be reviewed in early February.

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