The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently placed restrictions on the importation of poultry from France and the European Union. The restrictions, enacted by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, include live ducks, duck eggs, and unmitigated or untreated duck products from the APHIS-recognized European Poultry Trade Region, as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, but excluding Great Britain.
The restrictions are due to increased risk of introducing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza into the United States and were enacted October first. The restrictions are based on the World Organization for Animal Health’s definition of poultry and result from France’s decision to vaccinate commercial meat ducks against HPAI.
France’s decision to vaccinate presents a risk of introducing HPAI into the U.S. The U.S. does not currently allow the import of poultry from countries affected with HPAI or from flocks that have been vaccinated by HPAI.
(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters)