Canadian poultry banned by EU

The European Union banned all imports of poultry products and pet birds from Canada today after confirming a highly contagious outbreak of bird flu in one Canadian province.

EU Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner David Byrne recommended the suspension after he was informed by Canadian authorities that bird flu at a farm in central British Columbia was “highly pathogenic”.

The ban covers all poultry products, including live chickens, turkeys, ostriches and wild game birds like pheasants, as well as all hatching eggs and eggs for consumption. Pet birds were also included.

“In view of the risk of animal disease introduction into the EU, immediate action is appropriate,” the European Commission said in a statement from Brussels.

European Union countries imported €10.3m worth of Canadian hatching eggs last year and imported some 170,000 day-old chicks from Canada.