APHIS Implements New Regulations on Canadian Avian Imports to Combat HPAI Threat

New rules include expanded restricted zones in British Columbia and Alberta, in addition to stricter import requirements for poultry, eggs, and other avian products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has implemented new restrictions on Canadian avian imports following recent detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds.

APHIS has designated certain zones in British Columbia and Alberta as restricted areas effective November 12 and 14, 2024.

As a result, the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and some fresh poultry products originating from or transiting these zones is prohibited.

The newly restricted zones are:

• PCZ-242 in British Columbia
• PCZ-243 in Alberta
• PCZ-245 in Alberta

This brings the total number of restricted zones to nine and is an addition to the following seven designated areas in British Columbia and Saskatchewan:

• PCZ 236 in British Columbia 
• PCZ 237 in British Columbia 
• PCZ-238 in Saskatchewan 
• PCZ-239 in British Columbia
• PCZ-240 in British Columbia
• PCZ-241 in British Columbia 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has designated a highly pathogenic avian influenza zones page for detailed maps of the restricted zones.

APHIS will lift these restrictions once the affected zones meet the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (WOAH) criteria for regaining HPAI-free status, as outlined in Article 10.4.6 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code. 

What are the additional import requirements?

Specific import requirements have been implemented for various commodities of Canadian avian imports to prevent the spread of HPAI and protect the health of U.S. poultry. These regulations include:

1. For pet birds, zoo birds, and Columbiformes:

• 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 (New York) or Miami International Airport (Florida). These birds must undergo a 30-day federal quarantine that includes mandatory testing. Land entry is not permitted for birds from restricted zones.

2. For processed avian products and byproducts:

• When imported as cargo, all processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting restricted zones must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit.
• Government certification confirming that these products were treated according to APHIS requirements is also required. 

3. For food products containing pasteurized egg/egg product ingredients

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

4. For fresh, unprocessed eggs and other egg products

• The importation of fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and other egg products (void of the shell, such as liquid eggs or dried egg whites) originating from or transiting restricted zones is prohibited unless they are consigned from the port of arrival directly to an APHIS-approved breaking and pasteurization facility.
• An import permit or certificate is not required for these shipments if they are consigned to an APHIS-approved establishment.

5. For personal use avian products and byproducts

• Processed avian products and byproducts for personal use originating from or transiting all of Canada and entering in passenger baggage must:
  • Have a thoroughly cooked appearance.
  • Be shelf-stable due to APHIS-approved packaging and cooking, such as being hermetically sealed and commercially prepared to remain stable without refrigeration.
  • Be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming treatment in accordance with APHIS requirements.
• Unprocessed avian products and byproducts for personal use or in passenger baggage originating from or transiting all of Canada are not permitted to enter the United States. 

6. For hunter-harvested wild game bird meat, carcasses, and trophies

• All hunter-harvested wild game bird meat, carcasses, and trophies must meet the conditions outlined in the APHIS Import Alert issued on August 15, 2023.
• Further details are available on this Temporary Restrictions List.

These restrictions will be revised as more epidemiological data becomes available.

For more information about how this could affect your Canadian avian imports, please reach out to one of our trade professionals.