COA questioned UK over bird flu infection allegations

In response to allegations by the United Kingdom that birds imported from Taiwan were infected with the avian influenza H5N1 virus strain, Deputy Minister Hu Fu-hsiung of the Council of Agriculture (COA) made the following statements:

1. The COA strongly questions the report cited by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

2. The COA has asked Ms. Yeh Ying, deputy director general of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), to immediately contact the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan to arrange a meeting, in order to express concern over the United Kingdom's handling of this case, which has created international misunderstanding.

3. The COA telephoned Ray R.J. Chang, PhD, first secretary at Taiwan's Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization, asking him to fly immediately to the United Kingdom to assist Taiwan's Representative to the United Kingdom Lin Jun-yi with communication and handling of this case.

4. The BAPHIQ's preliminary understanding is that it is not possible for this batch of birds exported to the United Kingdom to have been infected with the H5N1 virus. The COA will continue to investigate every stage of this case.

Since last year, while countries neighboring Taiwan have reported cases of avian influenza, Taiwan has remained free of the virus. The government will continue to adopt effective measures to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into Taiwan.