Poland reclaimed bird flu-free status

Poland was declared free of bird flu late last month and hopes to regain access to markets outside the EU. In 2021, there were 339 HPAI outbreaks in poultry in Poland, according to an official statement.

As a result of the submission by the Chief Veterinarian on September 27, 2021 to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) of the so-called self-declaration of the completion of activities related to the elimination of the last outbreak, Poland regained the status of a country free from highly pathogenic avian influenza. At the same time, the chief veterinarian will ask all countries that have imposed restrictions related to the spread of bird flu in Poland to lift the restrictions imposed on the supply of Polish poultry products.

“This is the moment we've been waiting for. Polish producers may start thinking about returning to markets outside the EU, which are closed to Polish poultry. The first countries are already declaring their readiness to return to cooperation and trade. This is a signal to others and I hope that Polish poultry meat will soon be on the tables all over the world,” says Dariusz Goszczynski, CEO of the National Poultry Council - Chamber of Commerce and Industry.