The Canadian Food Inspection Service Agency (CFIA) confirmed on September 27, 2007, that test results from samples collected at a commercial broiler breeder farm in the Saskatchewan Province in Canada were positive for a North American strain of an H7N3 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus.

The virus detected in Canada is not the HPAI H5N1 virus that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa. Current U.S.-Canada protocol, however, requires the implementation of certain restrictions in response to an HPAI detection in North America.

Thus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is taking swift action to prevent the spread of the virus and is placing restrictions on avian commodities entering the United States from Canada.

Because the most severe form of the avian influenza virus has not been found in North American wild birds and the transportation of hunter-harvest birds does not unduly increase the risk of introducing the virus into this country, APHIS will allow the entry of hunter-harvested birds and wild bird commodities from Canada, including the Saskatchewan Province, into the United States. As customary, hunters will need to show a permit to hunt in Canada in order to bring in their game. This decision is consistent with World Organization for Animal Health guidelines.

APHIS, Wildlife Services, the Department of the Interior, state agencies and other partners continue to conduct extensive wild bird surveillance across the country.

Commercial Products

In accordance with an established protocol with Canada, APHIS’ Veterinary Services (VS) program placed a temporary ban on the importation of poultry and commercial shipments of live birds, hatching eggs and unprocessed (not fully cooked) avian products from the province of Saskatchewan in Canada.

The ban for the entire Province of Saskatchewan will remain until additional epidemiological information becomes available to reduce the area of restriction. All commercial shipments of unprocessed (not fully cooked) avian products are prohibited from Canada unless accompanied by a CFIA certification that the product did not originate from the province of Saskatchewan or are accompanied by a VSimport permit.

Fully-cooked avian products may enter in passenger baggage from Canada. Unprocessed (not fully-cooked) avian products from Canada will be not allowed in passenger baggage unless accompanied by a VS Import Permit or with proof that it did not originate from the province of Saskatchewan. Adequate proof of origin (APO) is documentary evidence of where an animal product comes from. Examples include meat inspection certificates, certificates of origin, bills of lading, invoices, receipts, labels or documents on official letterhead prepared by the manufacturer, shipper or seller. CBP personnel can also determine an APO through interviewing the passenger.

Fully cooked poultry meat, fully cooked meat products, fully cooked eggs and commercially pasteurized egg products are not affected by this ban and will be allowed entry.