ISLAMABAD, March 20: The government on Monday banned import of poultry and its products from Slovakia, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Germany to avoid spread of the deadly bird flu virus.

A commerce ministry notification issued here on Monday announced the decision including these countries in the list of countries from where poultry imports are banned.

Pakistan had already banned import of poultry and its products from 22 avian influenza infected countries with the recent inclusion of India and Iran in the list to avert the possible outbreak of bird flue in the country.

Official spokesman of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) and Commissioner Animal Husbandry Dr M. Afzal told Dawn that instructions had been passed to animal quarantine inspectors posted at entry and exit points.

Asked about non-inclusion of Afghanistan in the list of banned countries, the spokesman said the government was considering it but would take time to finalize the decision.

However, he said the inspectors posted at the Pak-Afghan border had been directed not to allow import of poultry products from Afghanistan.