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

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 03/11/2024 04:31 PM EDT

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

 

Issuance date: March 11, 2024 

4:00 pm, U.S. Eastern 

 

Effective date: March 8, 2024—PCZ-196 in Alberta 

PCZ-221 in British Columbia 

 

Effective on the date(s) listed above and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 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(s) listed above.  

 

APHIS placed avian commodity restrictions on these zone(s) due to the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has now demonstrated complete resolution of the HPAI outbreak in these zone(s), and the zone(s) 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 (WOAH) Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Therefore, this alert removes the HPAI restrictions for avian commodities originating from or transiting these zone(s).  

 

As previously announced, APHIS 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 the zones listed below: 

 

PCZ-206 in British Columbia 

PCZ-211 in British Columbia 

PCZ-219 in Saskatchewan 

PCZ-223 in Alberta 

PCZ-228 in British Columbia 

PCZ-231 in Ontario 

PCZ-232 in Nova Scotia 

PCZ-233 in Quebec 

PCZ-234 in Alberta 

PCZ-235 in Alberta 

 

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 zone(s) listed above are available on the CFIA Highly pathogenic avian influenza zones webpage. 

 

Also previously announced, APHIS requires a health certificate from the CFIA and an import permit for pet and zoo birds 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 or transiting 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 or transiting 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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