Notice to industry: Changes to import requirements for raw fresh/ frozen poultry products and by-products from the European Union

2022-06-16

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is harmonizing import requirements  with the European Union (EU) for products imported from countries with outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). As of July 1, 2022,  imports of raw fresh/frozen poultry meat and products from the EU must meet the following requirements.

Please note that these conditions apply to both edible and inedible raw fresh/frozen poultry meat and poultry products

• Additional animal health attestations in regards to HPAI will now be required for all shipments  of raw fresh/frozen poultry meat and poultry products from EU member states affected by HPAI.
• The attestation will state that the poultry did not originate from a zone under restriction, or from a premises within a 10 km radius of an HPAI control zone, for 90 days prior to slaughter.
• These attestations may be included in an annex to the zoosanitary certificate or the Official Meat Inspection Certificate (OMIC).
• The veterinary competent authorities of the EU member states have been provided with the wording that will be required.

• Shipments of poultry meat and meat products from EU member states that have already been certified prior to this change will be permitted to enter Canada.
• Any shipments certified on or after July 1, 2022 must be accompanied by the updated attestation requirement. There will be a transition period of 2 months (until September 1, 2022) where product will be accepted for import using either the previous or new conditions.

If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the Animal products and by-products import group at APABPImport@inspection.gc.ca