The Humane Society of the United States/Humane Society International today commended the European Union for adopting regulations to ban all imports of wild-caught birds as pets. The decision by the European Commission's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health becomes effective July 1 of this year.
The EU became the largest importer of wild-caught birds after the United States banned the import of certain birds for the pet trade in 2002. The EU imports approximately 1 million of these birds every year and even more are captured than imported. Between 40 percent and 60 percent die before they reach the marketplace because of stress and injury during capture and transport.
"The Commission's decision to end this cruel and destructive trade is important not only for protecting wild-bird populations, but also for minimizing the possible spread of avian influenza to humans and agricultural animals," Teresa M. Telecky, Ph.D., director of wildlife trade for HSUS/HSI, said. "We encourage other countries to follow the EU's lead to ban the import of wild birds from all other countries."
Birds infected with the current deadly strain of avian influenza, H5N1, have been found in both legal and illegal trade. The threat to human health led to the EU ban, one of the strictest responses to the threat posed by the trade to spreading the virus. Other countries that continue to import some wild birds for the pet trade, including the United States, have not taken such measures.
In a letter early last year to the Bush Administration to help combat the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus to the United States, The HSUS recommended among other actions to extend the current ban on the importation of birds from just those countries with documented case of H5N1 in poultry to all importing countries and to work with state and local authorities to close live bird markets, fairs, exhibitions and swaps here.
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