Contact:
APHISpress@usda.gov
WASHINGTON, January 16, 2025 – After a thorough risk evaluation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reducing existing trade restrictions on the importation of unvaccinated live poultry from France and unvaccinated live ducks from the APHIS-recognized European Poultry Trade Region (EPTR), as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
The restrictions, which took effect October 1, 2023, resulted from France’s decision to vaccinate commercial meat ducks and some breeding ducks against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). APHIS evaluated the HPAI vaccination practices in France to determine if HPAI vaccination significantly impacts the likelihood that unmitigated poultry commodities capable of transmitting the HPAI virus could enter the United States from France, other members of the EPTR, or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. Consistent with science-based trading principles, the evaluation focused on France’s HPAI vaccination plan and regulatory oversight, their ability to ensure only target birds are vaccinated, the traceability of their poultry commodities, and their post-vaccination surveillance methods.
APHIS concluded the following live animal commodities are highly unlikely to be vaccinated, and the HPAI vaccination campaign has not significantly impacted the likelihood of HPAI virus entering the United States from importation of these commodities:
- Non-duck poultry, including hatching eggs, from France
- Hatching eggs from France derived from unvaccinated breeding ducks
- Ducks, including day-old ducklings, from France derived from unvaccinated breeding duck flocks with additional validation and confirmation of vaccine status by the French competent authority
- Live ducks (including hatching eggs and day-old ducklings) from other EPTR countries and EFTA countries
- Duck products / byproducts from the EPTR countries (except those derived from vaccinated birds that have resided in France) and EFTA countries
- Non-duck poultry products / byproducts from France
The evaluation of France’s HPAI vaccination program supports the conclusion that APHIS can maintain safe agricultural trade with reduced restrictions on these unvaccinated poultry and poultry products/byproducts derived from non-vaccinated flocks. This conclusion aligns with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards regarding the impact of HPAI vaccination on trade. Vaccinated poultry (including hatching eggs and day-old ducklings derived from vaccinated poultry) and products/byproducts derived from vaccinated poultry will remain ineligible for import. Vaccinated birds may not show signs of HPAI infection, which could lead to the export of infected live animals or virus-contaminated products to the United States.
APHIS continues to work with State partners to respond to an outbreak of HPAI in the United States. HPAI is a serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to poultry. APHIS and officials from affected states are responding in accordance with Federal and State HPAI response plans, which include implementing quarantine restrictions, depopulating affected flocks, disposing of depopulated birds, cleaning and eliminating the virus from affected premises, and conducting surveillance in surrounding areas. For more information about HPAI and APHIS’ efforts to combat the virus, visit the APHIS website.
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