The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) yesterday emphasised that all importers of eggs are required to obtain approval and an import permit from it prior to importation.
“Importation of eggs without the requisite documentation is a criminal offence and will result in the seizure and destruction of the eggs and the consignee (importer) will be charged and placed before the court,” the GLDA said in an ad in yesterday’s Guyana Chronicle.
“Unauthorised importation poses a disease/health threat to our poultry industry and human population,” it added.
The GLDA warning comes in light of a mysterious illness that has ravaged flocks of Muscovy ducks along the coast. The increased mortality rate observed, particularly among the ducklings, resulted in the GLDA closing its hatchery over a week ago. Up to last week, the GLDA was awaiting permission from the US authorities to ship samples taken from stricken Muscovy ducklings for testing,
In yesterday’s ad, the GLDA highlighted that under the Animal Health Act 2011, any person intending to import any animals or animal product/commodity into Guyana has to apply to the GLDA for an import permit. It advised that all egg importers are required to obtain prior approval and an import permit from the Authority and warned that they could be charged if they do not do so.
Additionally, the GLDA said that all eggs being imported must come from farms that have been certified by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin, indicating that the eggs are free from diseases, fit for human consumption and/or the production of baby chicks. All imported eggs must be presented for entry in new and clean containers, it added.
Persons interested in importation must apply for an import permit at the GLDA’s head office at Tract GLDA, Agriculture Road, Plantation Mon Repos. They can be contacted on 220 6556, 220 6557.
After the hatchery was closed, the GLDA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Dr Dwight Walrond had told Stabroek News that it was awaiting permission from US authorities to ship samples taken from the stricken Muscovy ducklings for testing.
Walrond had said that after becoming aware of the illness, they made contact with their counterparts overseas and were referred to the Cornell University Research Centre in the US. He had explained that the samples can leave the country within 24 hours of the approval being granted and said they were working closely with the US authorities and the university to meet the criteria for exporting the samples. It is not clear if the samples have since been shipped.
Walrond had also said that the GLDA was carrying out their own trial in a controlled environment, where they are tracking the progress of the birds that are infected with the disease. He said that since the illness is new to this part of the world, there is no substantial information to work with. Despite that, he said they have shared some precautionary measures with farmers to assist them.
