The ban extends to domestic, wild live birds, ornamental birds, chicks, hatching eggs and non-heat treated by-products from the Netherlands, The National reports.

More than 150,000 chickens were culled in the Flevoland province recently to prevent the spread of the outbreak of the highly pathogenic strain.

Thermally heated poultry products from the Netherlands have been cleared for import, according to a statement from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on Thursday.

Samples of all food products are being tested in laboratories with sensors used to check the quality, said Majid Sultan Al Qassimi, assistant undersecretary of the ministry’s food diversity sector.

"These measures reiterate the ministry's keenness in eliminating pathogens before they enter the country," he said.

Documentation covering the origin, health and halal certification are being scrutinized to protect public health.

The UAE last month banned the import of chicken and egg products from Saudi Arabia following the detection of the same bird flu strain in Riyadh.

The avian flu infected and killed birds in the Saudi capital after which thousands of birds exposed to the virus were culled.

Further Reading

You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.