Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement after China’s decision to cease importation of Arkansas poultry products following an isolated incident of avian flu:

“Those of us in Arkansas who have enjoyed the nutritious, tasty, and perfectly safe poultry products produced in our state for generations can attest to the high quality of Arkansas chicken. One isolated incident, dealt with according to regulations and without any further evidence of illness, should not preclude our entire state’s poultry industry from access to the Chinese market. I am disappointed in what appears to be punitive action by the Chinese government against Arkansas agriculture and I will do everything in my power to assure that our producers are afforded the opportunity to export to this market as soon as possible.”