Background

Animal Imports from Mexico

Effective May 11, the Department of Agriculture has suspended the importation through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border of live cattle, horses, and bison originating from or transiting Mexico due to the continued and rapid northward spread of new world screwworm in Mexico. USDA states that this import suspension will persist on a month-by-month basis until a significant window of containment is achieved. In addition, the importation of bovine germplasm, sheep and goats and their germplasm, and swine and their germplasm from Mexico remains prohibited.

Poultry from Canada

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has imposed the following restrictions on the importation of poultry and related products originating from or transiting zones PCZ-268 in Manitoba (effective May 2) and PCZ-269 in Saskatchewan (effective April 30), Canada, due to concerns about highly-pathogenic avian influenza.

- Importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products is prohibited.

- Importation of processed avian products and byproducts, imported as cargo, must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the goods were treated in accordance with APHIS requirements. 

- Importation of fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and egg products, void of the shell (e.g., liquid eggs and dried egg whites), imported as cargo, is prohibited unless they 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 in such cases.

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

Separately, effective May 9 APHIS has removed restrictions on imports of poultry and related products originating from or transiting zones PCZ-262 in Ontario and PCZ-263 in Nova Scotia.

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