WattAgNet: Avian flu arrangement signed by US, Mexico, Canada

Written January 20, 2016
North American countries sign letter of understanding to collaborate on avian influenza response

In a historic government-industry collaboration, the United States, Canada and Mexico and their respective poultry and egg industries jointly have entered into an arrangement to enhance collaboration on avian influenza and to work toward harmonizing procedures for responding to possible future detections of the virus.

Government animal health authorities from the three countries, together with the heads of trade associations that represent the poultry and egg industries, signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) on avian influenza (AI) during a ceremony in Los Cabos.

“Mexico and Canada represent the lion’s share of our poultry and egg trade,” said Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC). “Together, these two markets account for more than two-thirds of all U.S. turkey exports, nearly two-thirds of our egg trade, and a third of our broiler exports – an annual value of almost $2 billion. That’s about one-third of the value of all U.S. poultry and egg exports in any given year.”

Objectives of the avian flu letter of understanding
The LOU recognizes that the spread of avian influenza by migratory birds is perhaps one of greatest challenges facing the global poultry industry, and that it is incumbent on the partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to harmonize their methods for dealing with AI to keep their poultry production systems safe and sustainable, and to minimize trade disruptions that can result from AI detections in commercial poultry.

The arrangement also creates a tripartite working group comprised of government animal health officials and industry representatives from the three countries that will serve as a forum for regular scientific discussions on AI and which will also consider any recommendations involving AI made by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

Strongly supported by the three governments and the domestic industries, the LOU establishes clear objectives for enhanced cooperation and lays the groundwork for sharing technical information on AI prevention, control, preparedness, recovery, and the risks of AI posed by migratory birds.

The signing ceremony is the culmination of discussions that started in late 2014 in Washington, D.C., between USAPEEC and the Union Nacional de Avicultores (UNA), trade organizations that represent the interests of the poultry industries in the United States and Mexico.

Agencies and organizations signing agreement
The government officials who signed the document are Dr. Rick Hill, executive director, National Import-Export Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, (on behalf of Dr. John Clifford, U.S. chief veterinary officer); Dr. Harpreet Kochhar of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Dr. Enrique Sánchez Cruz of the Mexican Service of Agricultural and Food Health, Safety and Quality.

Signing on behalf of their respective industries were Sumner, Jorge García de la Cadena, president of UNA; Robin Horel, president and CEO of the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council; and Neil Newlands, COO of Egg Farmers of Canada, on behalf of his organization, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, and Canadian Hatching Egg Producers.

“The relationships that exist between our industries and governments in these three countries are unsurpassed, and we’re pleased to participate in signing a document that formally links our governments and industries in an unprecedented manner,” Sumner said. “We’re hopeful that this agreement will be an important tool to provide our industries an adequate level of protection from poultry diseases while minimizing any impact on trade. We also hope this will set a precedent for other governments and countries around the world to follow.”