The National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (Senasa) complained to representatives of the Japanese embassy in Argentina for the temporary closure of imports of poultry products from Argentina decided unofficially by the eastern nation as a result of the detection of cases of avian influenza.
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"We formally ask Japan to suspend the restriction on the entry of poultry products and by-products from Argentina given that the decision of the Japanese authorities is not in line with the standards of the World Organization for Animal Health," said the vice president of Senasa, Rodlfo Acerbi.
The claim was expressed by the official, February 23, when he received in his office at the headquarters located at 300 Paseo Colon avenue, a delegation from the Japanese embassy made up of Shinji Maeda, head of the Economic Section; Tsuyoshi Tadano, agricultural adviser and Aki Tsujikawa, assistant .
At the meeting, Acerbi, who was accompanied by the director of Products of Animal Origin, Gabriel Pedretti; the general coordinator of International Relations of Senasa, Miguel Donatelli and professionals from the National Directorate of Animal Health, stated before the Japanese delegation that his country did not officially report the measure, which he described as "premature" since, he explained, the Argentina, according to international health and trade regulations, maintains its status as a country free of avian influenza because the 12 cases of the disease registered so far occurred in wild and backyard birds, and not in those of the commercial chain destined for consumption.
The vice president of Senasa explained to the representatives of Japan the migratory lines and the contagion zones of wild and backyard birds and stressed that birds destined for consumption have an inspection process that allows ruling out the presence of AI in them.
It also offered the Japanese representation to hold virtual meetings with the Tokyo authorities to expand the information they deem necessary.
At this point, the Japanese agricultural counselor indicated that in Japan, 76 cases of avian influenza have been detected .
Immediately afterwards, Acerbi indicated to the visitors that Senasa coordinates with the provincial authorities where AI outbreaks were detected, sanitary, control and raking actions, while in areas where no positive cases have been registered, it continues to carry out surveillance and monitoring in fields and mirrors of water and strict controls on luggage, passengers and cargo transport at border crossings with Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay. ■