Coughlan lifts safety measures for avian flu threat

SAFETY measures introduced by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan nearly two weeks ago following an outbreak of a mild form of avian flu on a farm in Wales have been lifted.

The participation in bird gatherings in Ireland of poultry imported from Britain was banned under the precautionary measures.

Ms Coughlan, whorevoked the measure yesterday, said she was satisfied the Welsh outbreak no longer posed a threat of the introduction of the virus to Ireland and that any risk of an outbreak here remained low.