*Argentina’s agriculture minister, Juan José Bahillo, has declared that “Argentina is once again free from avian influenza” which he said had allowed the country to “re-establish its status according to international health parameters”. In a statement, Bahillo said that Argentina’s national food safety and quality service (Senasa) had informed the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of the complete eradication of all 18 instances of bird flu recorded in commercial establishments in Argentina since February. The detection of a case of bird flu in February led Argentina to suspend poultry exports, adding to the challenges facing an agricultural sector decimated by the impact of Argentina’s worst drought in decades. The declaration will be communicated to each destination for the export of avian goods from Argentina to determine the position of each country and advance in subsequent negotiations. Bahillo emphasised that the eradication of the disease has been possible due to “the coordination with the productive sector and provincial and national institutions, driven by Economy Minister Sergio Massa”.
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