Frozen chickens banned for sale in Turkey imported to Azerbaijan

“Chickens, which are not allowed for sale in Turkey, are being imported to Azerbaijan. Fresh chickens are available on the domestic market for a term of a week, and old chickens are frozen in refrigerators and exported abroad,” Aydin Valiyev, Chief of Azerbaijan Poultry Society, said.

He added that chickens, which are imported to Azerbaijan, are low-quality and available at a low price on the market of exporting countries.

“If the imported chickens had been in line with standards, they should have been sold at AZN 6 or AZN 10 in Azerbaijan. These products are not allowed for sale in these countries. So, they export the low-quality products and the government pays 20% of the poultry farms’ expenses. Frozen chickens are not preferred and approved on the domestic market in Turkey. Only 20% of chickens are available in the frozen form. But, most of chickens sold to Azerbaijan are frozen,” he added.

Azerbaijan banned importation of poultry products from Turkey on January 23 due to bird flu threat.

Valiyev said the ban on imports will not have an immediate effect.

“15,300 tons of chickens have been imported from Turkey, Brazil and Poland recently. This will do for a long term,” he added.

Yolchu Khanaliyev, Press Secretary for the State Veterinary Service, opposed the accusations.

“Chickens imported to Azerbaijan are examined in laboratories and only “healthy” products are allowed to the market. Frozen chickens are not harmful. As to imports from Poland, I can say the chickens had been imported from Poland before bird flu was found in this country,” he added.

US chicken drumsticks are available at AZN 1.75 per kilo, Brazilian drumsticks at AZN 1.79 per kilo and Turkish drumsticks at AZN 2.60 and Turkish chickens at AZN 2.80 in the wholesale outlets of Azerbaijan.

/APA/