Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has updated its list of zones in Canada subject to restrictions on the importation of certain avian commodities. These measures are in response to ongoing detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds in Canada. Below is the list of newly restricted zones:

• PCZ 236 – British Columbia

• PCZ 237 – British Columbia

• PCZ 238 – Saskatchewan

• PCZ 239 – British Columbia

• PCZ 240 – British Columbia

• PCZ 241 – British Columbia

• PCZ 242 – British Columbia

• PCZ 243 – Alberta

• PCZ 245 – Alberta

Restricted Imports

The importation of the following avian commodities originating from or transiting through these zones is prohibited:

• Poultry

• Commercial birds

• Ratites

• Avian hatching eggs

• Unprocessed avian products and byproducts

• Certain fresh poultry products

Guidelines for Specific Avian Products and Animals

1. Pet Birds, Zoo Birds, and Columbiformes

   • Must have a health certificate endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

   • Birds entering the U.S. by air (except pet birds transiting from the lower 48 states to Alaska) or originating from restricted zones must have an APHIS-issued import permit and undergo a 30-day federal quarantine at John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York) or Miami International Airport (Florida).

   • Birds entering by land from non-restricted zones do not require a permit unless transiting restricted zones.

2. Processed Avian Products and Byproducts

   • Products imported as cargo must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit or government certification confirming compliance with APHIS treatment standards.

3. Eggs and Egg Products

   • Unprocessed shell/table eggs and egg products from restricted zones are prohibited unless consigned directly to an APHIS-approved pasteurization facility. No import permit is required if sent to an approved facility.

   • Fully finished, non-shelf-stable, and non-commercially packaged food products containing pasteurized egg/egg product ingredients must have an APHIS import permit.

   • Personal-use egg products must appear thoroughly cooked, be shelf-stable, or meet specific treatment standards confirmed by certification.

4. Hunter-Harvested Wild Game Birds

   • Must comply with the APHIS Import Alert issued on August 15, 2023. Details are available under the “Canada - Hunter Harvested Wild Game Bird Carcasses” link on the Temporary Restrictions List.

Recovery of HPAI-Free Status

APHIS will lift restrictions on Canadian zones that meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) criteria for recovery of HPAI-free status, as outlined in Article 10.4.6 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

Traveler Guidelines

Unprocessed avian products for personal use or passenger baggage originating from or transiting Canada are prohibited. Processed products must meet APHIS-approved criteria to be allowed entry.

Ongoing Monitoring

APHIS will continue to update these restrictions as additional epidemiological information becomes available. Maps of restricted zones can be found on the CFIA Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Zones webpage.

Veterinarians and stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed on the latest updates to ensure compliance with these regulations and to help prevent the spread of HPAI.