The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says that all poultry products and offal that are not fully cooked and canned or hermetically sealed and are sourced, processed or packaged in certain US states are not allowed to enter the country. “These measures are being taken to prevent the introduction of bird flu into Canada,” the CFIA said in a statement posted online earlier this month. The ban includes eggs and raw pet food, and there is also a ban on importing live birds and hatching eggs from the affected states. “If the product is not labeled with the state of origin by the manufacturer, the product may be denied entry,” the CFIA said. Restrictions apply to all travelers and importers of commercial goods. The policy comes amid outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among birds in Canada and the US The rules apply to products from 21 states, including several along the US-Canada border, such as Michigan, New York and Washington, that have seen outbreaks of bird flu. The CFIA says there is no food safety concern. “There is no evidence to suggest that eating cooked poultry or eggs could transmit HPAI to humans.” The ban is in effect until further notice, the agency said. The full list of states on the shortlist is available here.
