Italian Health Ministry said Wednesday that Italians are at no risk from chicken meat or eggs because of bird flu.

"There is no scientific evidence that eating poultry or eggs can transmit the disease to humans, even when they come from infected birds," the ministry said.

Therefore, a ban on bird meat or eggs "has no justification," the ministry said.

The ministry stressed that people can only get bird flu if they come into contact with infected animals, wild or from farms, or their droppings.

Italy set up a bird flu action plan in September 2002 and all stages of production and distribution were thoroughly checked, the ministry said.

"This careful surveillance system ensures elevated standards of hygiene."

Furthermore, Italy did not import bird products from areas hit by bird flu, it added.

Also on Wednesday, the European Commission said the bird flu virus was not present in European farms, which therefore posed no threat to European consumers.

"Only safe eggs and meat are present on the European market," a spokesman said.

Even if it were present, it would be destroyed when food is cooked, the EC said.

Source: Xinhua