December Brings New Canadian Requirements for Poultry Imports
Effective Dec. 4, Canada will require all shipments of live poultry and birds (including hatching eggs and pet birds) entering that country from the U.S. to present a USDA-APHIS Accredited Veterinarian-issued highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) control zone routing addendum.
The new rule is intended to prevent the spread of bird flu. The Canadian Food Inspection Authority will require the certification on birds coming from areas of the U.S. that have shown cases of avian influenza. The rule does not affect processed poultry products.
“Although the United States is listed as a country recognized by Canada as being free of HPAI, that recognition does not apply to the entire country,” said a memo from The Acheson Group food safety consultants. “Rather, a restricted zone is a 10-km circular zone around an infected premises, with certain counties in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington currently (as of this writing) having counties with zones of restriction in place.”
The addendum is required to show:
- A map of the intended route of transit.
- Commodity being exported and certificate numbers associated with the shipment.
- A statement attesting that the consignment has not traveled a route that transited any control zone for HPAI.
- Signature of the accredited veterinarian and date of signature.
Poultry from the U.S. accounted for 99% of all Canadian poultry imports in 2022, according to TAG. Click here for TAG’s full memo on the rule.