"We cannot allow market to import vaccines for bird flu. If need be, we will import it on our own," Upma Chawdhry, Joint Secretary Animal Husbandry told PTI. There was a ban on the imports of bird flu vaccine as 'H5N1 virus' was not reported from the country.
She said the government has enough stock of the poultry vaccines at present, and moreover with culling of infected chicken being preferred over vaccination, there was no need for the government to go through the private players to import the vaccine.
This comes in the backdrop of pharmaceutical companies seeking permission from the government to import poultry vaccines.
Ahmedabad-based leading poultry vaccine maker Hester Pharmaceuticals Ltd had sought permission from the government to allow import of avian influenza vaccines in the wake of bird flu incidence in Maharashtra.
"We have applied for permission to the government to import avian influenza vaccines for poultry from France and the United States," CEO and MD Hester Pharmaceuticals Ltd said.
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