24 July 2025: Lifting of HPAI-related restrictions from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Updated 27 August 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-veterinary-surgeon-ovs-notes/24-july-2025-lifting-of-hpai-related-restrictions-from-bosnia-and-herzegovina
OVS note number: 2025/51
Date: 24 July 2025
Purpose
To inform you that, following assessment of the disease control measures implemented by Bosnia and Herzegovina in response to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the temporary suspension on imports of the following commodities from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been lifted, with an opening date of 12 March 2025:
- fresh poultry meat
- meat products from poultry that have not been subject to treatment ‘D’ or higher
Background
Bosnia and Herzegovina notified WOAH of their first case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since 2017. This was confirmed on 10 February 2025 in a commercial poultry establishment in the district of Kozarde: WAHIS. As a result, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost their HPAI-free status.
To mitigate against the risk of HPAI, the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance amended its approved country listings on 13 February 2025 to suspend imports of HPAI-susceptible commodities from Bosnia and Herzegovina (see OVS note 2025/15).
Defra has now reviewed the measures implemented by Bosnia and Herzegovina in response to the outbreak and concluded that the HPAI-related import restrictions from Bosnia and Herzegovina can be lifted from 12 March 2025.
The UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance amended its third country listings on 24 July 2025 to lift the suspension on imports of HPAI-susceptible commodities from Bosnia and Herzegovina:
- an opening date of 12 March 2025 has been inserted in the entry for Bosnia and Herzegovina covering poultry meat (POU) in the poultry and poultry products list - as a result, the suspension of imports fresh poultry meat (POU) produced on or after 12 March 2025 has been lifted
- Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entry in the meat products list has been amended to re-stipulate that imports of meat products of poultry are now permitted with no specific treatment requirement (i.e. treatment option ‘A’)
Contact point for enquiries
Email: imports@apha.gov.uk
Imports and EU Trade Team