KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC):

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has become the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM) state to impose a temporary ban on the importation of all poultry and products from the United Kingdom following the discovery of the highly pathogenic Aavian influenza or 'bird flu' on a commercial turkey farm in eastern England last weekend.

Agriculture Minister Montgomery Daniel said that the ban was critical given the fact that the island imports a significant amount of poultry products from Britain. The island imports an estimated EC$14 million (US$5.1 million) in poultry products annually.

"This measure is not only about our small but thriving poultry industry, but also our livestock population because bird flu has been known to affect other livestock too."