Brussels, 28/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 23 December, the European Commission announced the immediate suspension (until the end of January) of imports of poultry and poultry products from Bulgaria, following an outbreak of Newcastle disease in the Kardjali region of Bulgaria, near the border with Greece and Turkey. Newcastle disease is a contagious disease in poultry that causes major losses in the sector if spread, but has no impact on human health. As a safeguard measure, the Commission has suspended all imports from Bulgaria of live poultry, ratites, wild feathered game and hatching eggs, fresh meat and meat products from these species. The decision will be reviewed in the light of the disease situation at the meeting of the Standing committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health scheduled for 11-12 January.