New Import Restrictions on Poultry from Chile and Canada
Effective on the dates indicated, and until further notice, USDA is restricting the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting the following provinces of Chile due to the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic birds.
- Cachapoal (March 13)
- Melipilla (March 13)
- Linares (March 21)
- Concepcion (March 24)
- Quillota (March 30)
- Valparaiso (March 30)
Similarly, USDA is restricting imports of such goods originating from or transiting the following zones in Canada.
- PCZ-93 in Alberta (Sept. 20, 2022)
- PCZ-99 in Saskatchewan (Sept. 26, 2022)
- PCZ-105 in Saskatchewan (Sept. 27, 2022)
- PCZ- 108 in Saskatchewan (Sept. 28, 2022)
- PCZ-106 in Alberta (Sept. 30, 2022)
- PCZ-148 in British Columbia (Nov. 16, 2022)
- PCZ-153 in British Columbia (Nov. 19, 2022)
- PCZ-158 in British Columbia (Nov. 25, 2022)
- PCZ-161 in British Columbia (Nov. 29, 2022)
- PCZ-162 in British Columbia (Dec. 1, 2022)
- PCZ-165 in British Columbia (Dec. 9, 2022)
- PCZ-166 in British Columbia (Dec. 13, 2022)
- PCZ-169 in British Columbia (Dec. 29, 2022)
- PCZ-172 in Quebec (Jan. 31, 2023)
- PCZ-173 in Quebec (Feb. 2, 2023)
- PCZ-174 in Quebec (Feb. 8, 2023)
- PCZ-173 in Nova Scotia (March 3, 2023)
- PCZ-176 in Ontario (March 10, 2023)
- PCZ-177 in Ontario (March 14, 2023)
- PCZ-178 in Quebec (April 5, 2023)
Processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting any restricted area, imported as cargo, must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements.
Importation, as cargo, of fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and other egg products, void of the shell (i.e., liquid eggs, dried egg whites), originating from or transiting any restricted province is prohibited unless the products are consigned from the port of arrival directly to an APHIS-approved breaking and pasteurization facility. An import permit and/or certificate is not required for these shipments when consigned directly to an APHIS-approved establishment.
Import Requirements Amended for Pepper Seeds
Effective April 7, the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has amended the entry requirements for pepper (Capsicum spp.) seeds imported into the U.S. from all countries to manage the phytosanitary risk from pospiviroids.
An APHIS risk assessment determined that two quarantine-significant pospiviroids, pepper chat fruit viroid (PCFVd) and potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), can follow the pepper seed pathway and therefore could cause disease in peppers.
As a result, shipments of pepper seeds must now be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate or a reexport phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration verifying that the seeds have been tested and found free of PCFVd and PSTVd prior to entry into the U.S. or have been produced in a country in which these pospiviriods are not known to occur. This requirement applies to all pepper seed shipments entering the U.S., including small lots.
Imports of Spinach and Melon Seeds Under Review
APHIS is considering a request to authorize the importation of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and melon (Cucumis melo) seeds for planting from all countries. APHIS has drafted pest risk assessments that list the potential pests likely to remain on these commodities upon importation if no mitigation is applied. Comments on these assessments, including information that might lead APHIS to revise its assessments before identifying pest mitigations and proceeding with the commodity import approval process, are due by May 4.
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