More than 12,000 eggs, 42.5 kg of dressed chicken, three live birds and 61 feather brooms were seized and destroyed by Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) since the ban on the import of poultry and related products from India was imposed on January 16 this year. All the seizures were done at the Phuentsholing border gate, which is a main entry point for trade with India. BAFRA officials also imposed fines totalling Nu 30,000. BAFRA has also resumed spraying all vehicles entering Phuentsholing town with disinfectants from March 29 with further reports of the bird flu having resurfaced in certain areas of the neighbouring district of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, India. Individuals walking through the gate are directed to walk through a metal tray filled with a solution of water and potassium permanganate. Phuentsholing hoteliers and business personnel dealing with poultry products have been briefed on the risk of importing poultry products from across the border, which are sold at low prices. BAFRA officials said that they were trained to recognise bird flu symptoms like haemorrhage in feet and puffed eyes. Infected birds tend to cuddle in a corner, give up eating feed and die in large numbers. "With the avian virus again being reported in the Indian state of West Bengal, vigilance measures are being reinforced all along the southern border,' said the officer-in-charge of BAFRA in Phuentsholing, Ugyen Dorji. Meanwhile, there are still cases of poultry products being smuggled through the border despite the indefinite ban. There is no ban on the import of beef, pork, mutton and fish. By Passang Norbu passa@kuensel.com.bt