EU vets expected to approve ban on exotic bird imports

European Union veterinary experts were today expected to approve an EU-wide ban on the import of exotic birds and stricter rules on the private ownership of such pet birds.

The move was being considered after a parrot, imported from Surinam, died in quarantine in Britain over the weekend after contracting the H5N1 flu strain. It was believed the parrot was infected by other birds in quarantine.