Govt suspends six officials for allowing KFC to import raw chickens from India

The government has suspended six quarantine officials for allowing Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), the US fast food chain, to import raw chicken from bird flu affected parts in India.

"We have taken action against the officials. They have been suspended," Xinhua quoted Jaya Mukunda Khanal, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Development as saying. "We are thoroughly investigating into the matter."

A three-member investigation panel had been formed under the leadership of Uttam Kumar Bhattarai, Joint Secretary at the Ministry to interrogate the matter.

Among those suspended include two senior officials, i.e. under-secretaries and four technicians. All of them were summoned at the Ministry Sunday and interrogated on how they could overlook the quarantine law.

The World Health Organisation, a few weeks ago, again listed India as a bird flu affected country. The law bans import of livestock from such countries.

The ministry has issued circulars to all the government offices, quarantine check posts and security bodies to increase vigil to prevent illegal livestock imports into the country.

Last Saturday, a group of irate poultry farmers in Dhading took control of two containers of KFC carrying 5,104 kg frozen chicken from India. They dug a pit and buried the whole stock.

KFC has been importing raw chicken from outside Nepal even as Nepali poultry farmers are saying they are capable of meeting KFC's standards. nepalnews.com