About this project
The B.C. Fraser Valley is a highly dense area in terms of poultry operations. It has large amounts of annual rainfall and is under an existing migratory pathway. These factors make the Fraser Valley particularly susceptible to large outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). While B.C. is home to about 12% of the poultry production in Canada, 39% of all HPAI infected premises have occurred in the Fraser Valley during this HPAI event. We are launching a pilot project to modify the approach to Primary Control Zone (PCZ) mapping and declaration. We will also modify active surveillance and permitting requirements within the zone to better reflect the unique needs of the region. This new structure will help industry to maintain business continuity and meet international trade obligations, while reducing and simplifying surveillance requirements in this area for producers without increasing the risk of disease spread.
The zones
The CFIA will introduce 11 predetermined geographical zones. We will declare a Fraser Valley Primary Control Zone (FV PCZ) with applied movement restrictions when we detect avian influenza in poultry within the zone or within 10 km of an infected premises.
These zones will become declared PCZs when:
- we detect and confirm an infected poultry premises (commercial or non-commercial) within a Fraser Valley zone, or
- the 10 km radius surrounding an infected premises extends into a neighbouring zone
Declaring a Fraser Valley Primary Control Zone (PCZ FV)
When we detect avian influenza in poultry, we declare a PCZ. In the Fraser Valley (FV), the PCZ will initially be either category 1 (includes FV zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) or category 2 (includes FV zones 1, 2, 8, 9, 10,11). Category 1 zones have been determined based on poultry density and permitting requirements for movements to zones of lower health status.
For either category, all premises with domestic birds that fall within an active FV PCZ are considered to be within a declared PCZ with applicable restrictions.
Premises located in a FV PCZ category 1 infected zone will have the following conditions applied:
- movement restrictions apply when exiting or moving from a zone classified as category 1 into any other zone of higher health status.
(For example moving from category 1 to category 2 zone) - products in zones classified as category 1 can move into or though zones classified as of equal health status without movement restrictions.
(For example moving from category 1 to category 1 zone)
Premises located within a FV PCZ category 2 infected zone will have the following conditions applied:
- movement restrictions apply when exiting or moving from a zone classified as category 2 into any zone with a higher health status.
- products in zones classified as category 2 can transport products into or though zones classified as of equal or lower health status without movement restrictions.
(For example moving from category 2 to category 1 or 2)
Details on movement permits and restrictions can be found on the permits and conditions needed for movement control page.
Security Zones
Once all IPs within an active FV PCZ and within 10 km radius of a zone have completed outbreak surveillance and primary decontamination, the entire FV PCZ will be classified as a security zone.
Revoking a Fraser Valley PCZ
A FV PCZ will be revoked and free of movement restrictions once PCZ-specific post-outbreak surveillance is completed.
Redeclaring a Fraser Valley PCZ
In contrast with standard PCZs, which are created or amended with each new detection, the Fraser Valley zone boundaries will remain constant and can be redeclared in subsequent outbreak waves.