Import Alert: Release of HPAI Restrictions on One Zone in Canada

Import Alert: Release of HPAI Restrictions on One Zone in Canada
Issuance date: March 10, 2023
Effective date: March 6, 2023—PCZ-159 in British Columbia

 

 Effective on the date listed 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 zone listed above.

 VS placed avian commodity restrictions on this zone 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 the HPAI outbreak in this zone, and the zone has met the requirements to regain their previous HPAI-free status in accordance with Article 10.4.6 of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Therefore, this alert removes the HPAI restrictions for avian commodities originating from or transiting this zone.

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 2 zones in Alberta (PCZ-93 and PCZ-106); 16 zones in British Columbia (PCZ-148, PCZ-149, PCZ-151, PCZ-152, PCZ-153, PCZ-155, PCZ-158, PCZ-161, PCZ-162, PCZ-164, PCZ-165, PCZ-166, PCZ-168, PCZ-169, PCZ-170, and PCZ-171); 1 zone in Ontario (PCZ-167); 3 zones in Quebec (PCZ-172, PCZ-173, and PCZ-174); and 4 zones in Saskatchewan (PCZ-99, PCZ-105, PCZ-108, and PCZ-139).

Importation of any of these commodities originating from or transiting a restricted zone is prohibited, based on the diagnosis of HPAI in domestic birds.

 Maps of the zones listed above are available on the CFIA Highly pathogenic avian influenza zones webpage.

 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 be flown 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; or
• 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 for personal use or in passenger baggage originating from or transiting a restricted zone will not be permitted to enter the United States.

 Hunter-harvested wild game bird meat and carcasses must meet the conditions outlined in the APHIS Import Alert issued September 13, 2022, which can be found on the Temporary Restrictions List as “Canada - Hunter Harvested Wild Game Bird Carcasses”.  

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

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