Canada Restricts, Mexico Bans U.S. Poultry

WASHINGTON - Feb 24/04 - SNS -- Mexico has closed its border to all imports of U.S. origin chicken and products on account of the discovery of the highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza on a farm in Texas.

Reaction in Canada was muted in comparison, with its import ban only affecting poultry produced in Texas.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) imposed temporary import restrictions on live poultry and poultry products from Texas "as a precautionary measure following the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the state."

Canadian officials explained the specific subtype of the virus is not the same as the form currently present in Asia. Nevertheless, standard Canadian import policies prohibit the importation of at-risk commodities from any region where highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected. This measure is consistent with internationally accepted animal disease standards.

The disease has been detected on one farm. Information from U.S. authorities indicates that no live poultry or poultry products have been exported from this establishment to Canada. Work is underway to determine whether Canada has imported any potentially affected commodities from any other establishments in Texas.

The CFIA has alerted the Canadian Border Services Agency to refuse entry into Canada of any affected commodities. As well, Canadian officials have asked the U.S. to voluntarily withhold any further export certification of these commodities to minimize the amount of product sent to the border.