ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The government has withdrawn ban on import of poultry feed ingredients from European countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, Falkland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Holland and Spain.

The decision was announced in a notification issued here on Thursday by amending the Import Policy Order-2007.

The import of poultry ingredients from these countries was stopped following outbreak of mad-cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).

According to an official, the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (Minfal) has now declared these countries free from the disease, after which import of poultry ingredients has been allowed.

According to the decision, the ban will not apply to poultry origin hydrolysed protein (protein meal), blood meal, poultry fat, poultry liver meal, meat and bone meals (raw material originating 100 per cent from by-products from poultry slaughter), egg powder and flavouring substances for pet food and fish feed industry from the aforesaid BSE-infected countries.