Import Alert: Release of HPAI Restrictions on 4 Zones in Canada

Import Alert: Release of HPAI Restrictions on 4 Zones in Canada

Issuance date: August 18, 2022     

Effective date: August 12, 2022—PCZ-41 and PCZ-65 in Ontario; PCZ-67 in Saskatchewan; and PCZ-70 in British Columbia

                                   

Effective on the date noted above and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is removing restrictions on the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting the following zones: PCZ-41 and PCZ-65 in Ontario; PCZ-67 in Saskatchewan; and PCZ-70 in British Columbia, Canada.

 VS placed avian commodity restrictions on these zones due to the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has now effectively demonstrated complete resolution of these HPAI outbreaks, and the zones have met the requirements to regain their previous HPAI-free status in accordance with Article 10.4.6 of the World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Therefore, this alert rescinds the previous alerts and removes the HPAI restrictions for avian commodities originating from or transiting these four zones.

 As previously announced, VS continues to restrict the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting 7 zones in Ontario (PCZ-6, PCZ-9, PCZ-33, PCZ-45, PCZ-51, PCZ-55, and PCZ-58); 1 zone in Alberta (PCZ-19); and 2 zones in Quebec (PCZ-23 and PCZ-73). Any of these commodities originating from or transiting a restricted zone are prohibited, based on the diagnosis of HPAI in domestic birds.

 Maps of the Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec zones are available on the CFIA Avian Influenza Zones website.

 Also previously announced, effective December 19, 2021, APHIS requires a health certificate from the CFIA and an import permit for pet and zoo birds, as well as columbiformes, such as pigeons and doves, imported from Canada.

 Pet birds, zoo birds, and columbiformes originating from or transiting a restricted zone must fly directly to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, or Miami International Airport in Florida to undergo a 30-day federal quarantine that includes mandatory testing.

 Under these restrictions, processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting a restricted zone, 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 a restricted zone, 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/are 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 a restricted zone and entering in passenger baggage must:

 

• have a thoroughly cooked appearance;
• be 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); or
• be accompanied by an 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 a restricted zone will not be permitted to enter the United States. This includes hunter-harvested meat. Non-fully finished avian hunting trophies must be consigned to an APHIS-approved taxidermy establishment.

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

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