Import Alert: Import Restrictions on Canada due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza 

APHIS lifts its import restrictions on zones in Canada after they have met World Organisation for Animal Health criteria for recovery of HPAI free status described in Article 10.4.6 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code. 

All pet birds, zoo birds, and Columbiformes must be accompanied by a health certificate endorsed by the CFIA. Pet birds and Columbiformes entering the United States by air, and all zoo birds, must have an APHIS-issued import permit. An import permit is not required for pet birds and Columbiformes entering the United States by land if they do not originate from or transit a restricted zone, except pet birds transiting through Canada from the lower 48 States to Alaska. 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; they may not enter by land. 

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 in accordance with APHIS requirements. 

Fully finished, non-shelf stable and/or non-commercially packaged and labeled food products containing pasteurized egg/egg product ingredients, originating from or transiting all of Canada must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit. 

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 if they are consigned to an APHIS-approved establishment.  

Processed avian products and byproducts, including eggs and egg products, for personal use originating from or transiting 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 or transiting all of Canada will not be permitted to enter the United States. 

Hunter-harvested wild game bird meat, carcasses, and trophies 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.  

More information is available on the APHIS website:  

• Bringing Live Animals and Germplasm into the United States From Another Country (Import),  

• Animal Product Imports, and  

• Avian Influenza: disease, prevention, and control information.