Import Alert: HPAI Restrictions on Avian Commodities Originating from or Transiting Zones in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 10/10/2023 04:47 PM EDT
Issuance Date: October 10, 2023
7:13 am, U.S. Eastern
Effective Dates: September 11, 2023—PCZ-191 in Alberta
September 20, 2023—PCZ-192 in Saskatchewan
September 27, 2023—PCZ-193 in Alberta
Effective on the date(s) listed above (in bold) and as previously announced (non-bold), 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 originating from or transiting the zone(s) listed above. Importation of any of these commodities originating from or transiting a restricted zone is prohibited, based on the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds.
Maps of the zone(s) listed above are available on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Highly pathogenic avian influenza zones webpage.
As previously announced, 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.
Importation of fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and other egg products, void of the shell (i.e., liquid eggs and dried egg whites) originating from or transiting a restricted zone, imported as cargo, is 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 eggs and egg products, for personal use originating from all of Canada 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 a hermetically sealed container and cooked by a commercial method after such packing to produce an article that is shelf stable without refrigeration); or
- be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products or byproducts were treated in accordance with APHIS requirements.
Unprocessed avian products and byproducts for personal use or in passenger baggage originating from all of Canada 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 August 15, 2023, which can be found on the Temporary Restrictions List at the “Canada - Hunter Harvested Wild Game Bird Carcasses” link.
These restrictions will be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained. Additional information can be found on the APHIS website.
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