Exporting Commercial Birds to Canada

19 May 2010

biraviec.ca

Ref: AE-CA 19L

1. Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999:

(i) I notify the following overseas market access requirements, entitled commercial birds to Canada.

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 5th day of July 2010.

Signed: Matthew Stone BVSc MACVSc MVS (Epidemiology)
Group Manager
Animal Imports and Exports
Border Standards Directorate
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2. Canada requirements

Commercial birds exported from New Zealand to Canada must comply with the import requirements of Canada listed in this notice as follows:

2.1 An Import Permit is required for the exportation of commercial birds from New Zealand to Canada.

2.2 An Official Veterinarian authorised by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry must certify, after due enquiry, the following:

2.2.1 New Zealand is free of highly pathogenic notifiable avian influenza, and Newcastle disease caused by an avian strain of the paramyxovirus type 1 with an intra-cerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) in one-day-old-chicks greater than 0.7.

2.2.2 The bird(s) has been continuously resident in New Zealand:

either

2.2.2.1 a minimum of 60 days immediately prior to export

or

2.2.2.2 has been resident since birth or hatching.

(To be deleted as appropriate)

2.2.3 The bird(s) has not been vaccinated against avian influenza (H5, H7).

2.2.4 The bird(s) has been inspected by an Official Veterinarian, within 24 hours of export, and showed no clinical sign of infection with a virus which would be considered HPNAI in poultry.

2.2.5 The bird(s) has been kept in isolation at a location approved by an Official Veterinarian since it was hatched or for 21 days prior to export, and showed no clinical sign of infection with a virus which would be considered HPNAI in poultry during this period.

2.2.6 During the pre-export isolation period, and within 21 days prior to export, a representative sample of the consignment (60 birds or the entire consignment if the total number of imported birds is less than 60) was subjected, with negative results, to a diagnostic test on oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs (PCR or VI).

2.2.6.1 Samples may be pooled to a maximum of five swabs per vial. The oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were kept in separate vials.

2.2.6.2 For small species, a swab from a fresh sample of faeces from the bird is acceptable, but samples cannot be pooled.

2.2.7 The birds were inspected within the 30 days prior to export. At the time of inspection, they were healthy, showed no clinical signs of infectious or contagious diseases, and as far as could be determined, exposure there to, were free from injuries and fit to travel to Canada. Date of inspection recorded.

2.2.8 The transport container(s) was new.

2.2.9 The cage(s) was sealed before export with an official seal. Seal number recorded.

3. Definitions

For the purposes of this document:

Any term or expression that is defined in the Animal Products Act 1999 and used, but not defined in this document, has the same meaning as in this Act.

Explanatory note

These overseas market access requirements are based the export certificate for commercial birds to Canada dated 19 May 2010.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: BIRAVIEC.CA 19.05.10

1. This is a new export certificate which is based on import requirements supplied by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on 5 May 2010. It was approved on 30 June 2010 by CFIA (Doug Hayes, email).

2. An Import Permit is required.

3. The original of this export certificate and any other necessary export documentation pertaining to the shipment must be provided for inspection at the first point of entry.

4. The bird(s) described in the export certificate must be shipped by the most direct route from the point of export to the address of destination in Canada. Transhipment through another country requires written authorisation from CFIA.

5. The required pre-export isolation period is in addition to the 60 days or residency.

6. The bird(s) must be identified by an acceptable electronic or non-electronic means. For non-electronic identification, the bird(s) must be uniquely identified by a tattoo, flock number, or a wing or tamper evident leg bands. Alternatively, the cage(s) containing the bird(s) must be securely fastened with an official seal. Identification must be recorded on the export certificate.

7. It is the exporter’s responsibility to report any suspected illness or death affecting any bird between the date of inspection and the date of export.

8. The original version of the laboratory results (relating to clause 2.2.6) must accompany the birds for export to Canada.

9. The birds must be carried and caged (with labels) in accordance with the current Live Animals Regulations of IATA (International Air Transport Association), and in such a way as to ensure humane management at all times.

10. It is the exporter’s responsibility to make enquiries whether a CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) Permit is needed. The Department of Conservation (DOC) should be contacted for this.

11. A representative sample of the shipment (60 birds or the entire shipment if the total number of imported birds is less than 60) will be tested for avian influenza virus using PCR swabbing or virus isolation 21 days after entering a Canadian-approved quarantine isolation. The birds can be released provided that the test result(s) is negative.

12. Please refer to the CFIA Import Permit for post arrival conditions.

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Section 61.A of the Animal Products Amendments Act 2005 states that 'The Crown is not liable, and nor is the Director-General or any employee of the Ministry liable, for any loss arising through the refusal or failure of the relevant authority of an overseas market to admit export animal material or animal product to that market'.