Import Alert: HPAI Restrictions for Avian Commodities Originating from or Transiting Benin

Import Alert: HPAI Restrictions for Avian Commodities Originating from or Transiting Benin

Issuance Date: August 26, 2021

Effective date: August 18, 2021

Effective August 18, 2021, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is restricting the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products from the Republic of Benin.

Any of these commodities originating from or transiting through Benin are prohibited, based on the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds.

Under these restrictions, processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting Benin imported as cargo must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements.

Fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and other egg products, void of the shell (i.e., liquid eggs, dried egg whites) originating from or transiting Benin imported as cargo are prohibited unless they are consigned from the port of arrival directly to an APHIS-approved breaking and pasteurization facility. An import permit and/or certificate is not required for these shipments when consigned to an APHIS-approved establishment.

Processed avian products and byproducts, including egg/egg products, for personal use originating from or transiting through Benin entering in passenger baggage which do not have a thoroughly cooked appearance, or are not shelf-stable as a result of APHIS-approved packaging and cooking (i.e. packaged in hermetically sealed containers and cooked by a commercial method after such packing to produce articles that are shelf stable without refrigeration), must also be accompanied by a APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products/byproducts were treated according to APHIS requirements.

Unprocessed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting Benin will not be permitted to enter the United States. This includes hunter harvested, non-fully finished avian trophies and meat.

Importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, and hatching eggs will be prohibited. However, pet and zoo birds, pigeons, and doves, may be imported under an APHIS import permit, and will be subject to a 30-day quarantine at the New York Animal Import Center in Newburgh, NY or the Miami Animal Import Center in Miami, FL.

These restrictions will be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained. Current information can be found on the APHIS website.

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