By Emily Smith - 29th January 2004
The European Commission has slapped a ban on the import of pet birds from Asia, in its latest bid to stop the spread of a deadly bird bug.
This means that exotic species such as parrots and hawks, along with budgies and cockatoos, will no longer be brought for sale in the EU.
It follows on from a commission decision last week to ban the sale of Thai poultry in Europe.
Thousands of chickens have been buried alive in Thailand as measures to contain the virus become increasingly desperate.
And many small poultry farmers have seen their only source of income disappear altogether as trade bans combine with culling to destroy their business.
Ten people have so far died from avian influenza.
The countries affected by the latest ban are Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan and China (including Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam).
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