April 8, 2004

 

 

Canada Authorities Lift Poultry Movement Ban In British Columbia
 

Federal officials from British Columbia have eased restrictions on poultry movement, allowing fresh and frozen chicken meat not infected with bird flu to be shipped outside southern B.C.

 

A ban on the movement of poultry products was put in place around infected farms in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland more than a month ago.

 

Now that birds in the highest-risk areas have been slaughtered, transportation restrictions can be eased, said Dr. Cornelius Kiley a veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

 

"Fresh and frozen poultry meat will be allowed, under permit, to be shipped to the rest of Canada," he told a news conference in Abbotsford, B.C.

 

"Science has demonstrated that this product can be moved safely under certain circumstances," he added.

 

"In responding to diseases such as this our primary concern is the protection of food safety and animal health. However, we are also committed to implementing disease-control measures that are no more restrictive than necessary," Kiley said.

 

"There is very low risk for that meat," Federal Agriculture Minister Bob Speller said earlier in the day. "It's next to nil in terms of the threat to human health or animal health."

 

So far, most of the birds on about 20 commercial farms and in six "backyard" flock operations have been killed, according to inspectors. The avian flu has not been detected on any other property in B.C. But as a precaution, about 19 million birds will eventually be slaughtered in the province's south to prevent further transmission of the disease.

 

Although the order to kill so many birds will be difficult for many people, from commercial farmers to pet owners, officials said they have no other choice.

 

"Sadly, we are dealing with an indiscriminate and unrelenting virus. The birds in captivity are susceptible, and all pose a risk of spreading the disease. Our actions must be as sweeping as possible," Kiley said.

 

It's not clear when B.C. poultry operations will be able to restock with new birds, officials said. Since it may take months to eradicate the virus from a given property even after the animals are dead, careful disinfection and monitoring will be required.