APHIS restricting imports from Australia due to HPAI

[Laura Bies]

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FROM APHIS:

Import Alert: HPAI restrictions for avian commodities originating from or transiting Australia 

Issuance Date: August 4, 2020 

Effective date: July 24, 2020 

Effective July 24, 2020, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is restricting the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products from Australia. Any of these commodities originating from or transiting through Australia are prohibited, based on the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic birds. 

Under these restrictions, processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting Australia 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. 

Processed avian products and byproducts for personal use from or transiting through Australia which may enter in passenger baggage and does not have a thoroughly cooked appearance, or is not shelf-stable as a result of APHIS approved packaging and cooking (i.e. packaged in hermetically sealed containers and cooked by a commercial method after such packing to produce articles that are shelf stable without refrigeration), must also be accompanied by a APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products/byproducts were treated according to APHIS requirements. 

Unprocessed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting through Australia will not be permitted to enter the United States. This includes hunter harvested, non-fully finished avian trophies and meat. 

Importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, and hatching eggs will be prohibited. However pet and zoo birds, pigeons and doves, may be imported under an APHIS import permit, and will be subject to a 30-day quarantine at the New York Animal Import Center in Newburgh, NY or the Miami Animal Import Center in Miami, FL. 

These restrictions will be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained. Current information can be found on the APHIS website: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import- information/animal-and-animal-products-imports