U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted notice that effective immediately and until further notice the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is placing temporary prohibitions on the importation of poultry, commercial birds, other types of birds (research and performing), ratites, all avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and by-products, and certain fresh poultry products from the province of Ontario, Canada.
Any of these commodities originating from or transiting through the province of Ontario are prohibited entry to the United States due to the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry. These restrictions may be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained.
Avian product from British Columbia have been similarity restricted since December 2014, when HPAI was found there.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) posted notice that they are not certifying exports of live poultry, day-old chicks or hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products or by-products that originated within Ontario, Canada.
Processed avian meat, products and by-products originating from or transiting through the province of Ontario and imported as cargo, must be accompanied by an APHIS VS import permit and/or Canadian government (CFIA) certification confirming the products/by-products were treated according to APHIS requirements if they do not meet certain conditions. The conditions include: a thoroughly-cooked appearance and 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).
For questions regarding the importation of live birds, please contact the VS National Import Export Services – Live Animals staff at (301) 851-3300.
Other questions on HPAI requirements may be directed to a Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Agriculture Quarantine Inspection (AQI), Veterinary Medical Officer or PPQ QPAS Veterinary Regulatory Support headquarters staff at (301) 851-2312.
Questions about this regulatory update may be directed to Livingston’s U.S. Regulatory Affairs group.