WattAgNet: Japan, Taiwan ban Ontario poultry over avian influenza

Japan and Taiwan have placed trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products from Ontario, citing avian influenza concerns.

Japan and Taiwan have placed trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products from Ontario in response to the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a turkey flock near Woodstock, Ontario.

The trade restrictions were announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The outbreak, confirmed on April 7, was the first for the province of Ontario, although Canada had dealt with earlier outbreaks of avian influenza in commercial chicken and turkey flocks in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, which started in December 2014.

In addition to the affected farm, seven other nearby farms in Ontario, which is Canada’s top turkey producing province, have been placed under quarantine.

About 7,500 birds have died at the infected Ontario farm, and the remaining 4,500 in the infected barn are scheduled to be euthanized.

Paul Mayers, CFIA vice-president of policy and programs, said the agency was conducting tests to confirm the exact serotype of the Ontario virus. The results of those tests are expected to be revealed within days.

The trade bans put in place by Japan and Taiwan are added to a list of about ten other countries – including Australia and Brazil -- that have implemented restrictions on Canadian poultry as a result of the previous outbreaks of avian influenza in British Columbia.