Saturday, January 10, 2015

CFIA imposes poultry ban on U.S.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has banned poultry imports from Washington and Oregon states following the discovery of avian influenza in backyard flocks.

The highly-pathogenic strain of avian influenza was identified Dec. 4; the CFIA imposed its ban Jan. 8.

Speedy, eh? Ah, but Christmas came in there. The flu is also known to take Christmas breaks. And we all believe in Santa Claus and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

Americans were prompt in banning poultry from British Columbia following outbreaks in the Fraser Valley that wiped out 11 flocks of turkeys,  chickens and hatching egg production. 

There have been no new cases there since Dec. 19.

Migrating wildfowl are suspected of causing all of the outbreaks on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.


“All birds, all raw poultry and all poultry products and byproducts that are not fully cooked, including eggs and raw pet foods, sourced, processed, packaged or shipped from either state are now prohibited from entry into Canada until further notice,” CFIA said.