At the end of 2014 an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was reported in Canada. China, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States immediately banned import of poultry products either from the affected provinces or from the whole country. Despite all precautionary measures taken the disease spread very quickly over the border to the US.
During the first quarter of 2015 the following US states reported a HPAI outbreak: Arkansas, California, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington. Three different HPAI strains were recorded: H5N8, H5N2 and H5N1. According to latest news the bird flu has spread also to the stte of Wyoming.
Dozens of nations have already banned US poultry products - either for food or for non-food (technical) purposes. These include Canada, Mexico, China, India, Japan, the EU countries. The ban has had a huge negative economic impact worldwide. In order to secure supplies and continue trade whenever possible the EU has divided the US in two regions: US--1 (not banned) and US-2 (banned). The Regions of origin must now be additionally indicated on the export certificates for animal by-products to the EU for exports of avial by-products.
The USDA has recently updated also the information regarding export of avian and other animal by-products to Japan.
Due to the ongoing disease outbreaks exporters of avian products are advised to contact their local USDA office for further clarification.
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