CFIA Enhances Import Measures Respecting Live Birds and Avian Influenza

News Release

The CFIA is
enhancing its control measures on imports of live birds from all countries
eligible to export birds to Canada to further limit opportunities for the
importation Avian influenza (AI) to Canada.
These measures apply to countries which are recognized as being free of
highly pathogenic AI in their
domestic flocks. Canada continues to prohibit trade in poultry, poultry
products and birds with any country which is not recognized as free of highly
pathogenic AI in its domestic
flock.
Canadas new import measures are consistent with guidelines established
by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as the foundation for safe
trade while protecting animal and human health. The measures were developed in
consultation with provincial governments, the Canadian poultry industry and
Canadas principal poultry and bird trading partners, the United States
and the European Union.
The new measures will be applied to imports of live poultry and other
commercial birds, such as parrots, pigeons and songbirds, day old chicks and
hatching eggs.
The key measures for live poultry include:
Pre-shipment inspection of live poultry by a certified veterinarian within
24 hours of shipping;
Confirmation that birds were kept in a country, zone or compartment free of
highly pathogenic avian influenza since they were hatched or for 21 days prior
to shipment;
Vaccinated birds are not eligible for import into Canada; and
The country has an official surveillance plan for Notifiable Avian
Influenza (NAI) in place that has been carried out in the establishment within
the past 21 days, or a representative sample of the shipment was subjected to a
diagnostic test within the 21days prior to shipment to demonstrate freedom from
infection with NAI.
Similar measures to those being implemented for poultry will be put in place
for other commercial birds, day-old chicks and hatching eggs. Import controls
on personally-owned pet birds accompanying their owners to Canada will not
change.
Canada generally requires a 30-day quarantine of imported animals upon their
arrival in Canada. The enhanced import measures will require that
representative samples (60 birds) from all live-bird shipments to Canada be
tested in Canada for notifiable avian influenza 21 days after entering the
approved quarantine location. Negative results must be available prior to the
release of the birds.
The processing of import applications reflecting the new measures will began
on April 24, 2006.
Additional
information on the enhanced import measures can be found at
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/policy/ie-2006-2e.shtml
Regionalization of France
In conjunction with the new import measures, Canada has reduced the zone of
restrictions on imports of poultry, poultry products and birds from France
based on confirmation from the European Union that it has accepted protection
measures against highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) put in place by France.
Canada announced on March 1, 2006 that it had suspended imports of poultry and
birds from France following confirmation of an outbreak of highly pathogenic
H5N1 avian influenza on a turkey farm in the Département (district) of
Ain. French poultry, poultry products and birds are now eligible for import to
Canada with the exception of those areas which remain under official
restriction by the Government of France.

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Canadian Food Inspection Agency Health and Safety

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2016-12-15

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CFIA Enhances Import Measures Respecting Live Birds and Avian Influenza

News Release

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