May 11, 2004

USDA Expands Ban On Asian Poultry Due to Bird Flu

The United States closed its borders to all birds and poultry parts from Asian countries affected with a deadly strain of bird flu, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Monday.

The decision expands a USDA import ban, announced in early February, to include all unprocessed poultry products and pet birds from countries with the H5N1 strain.

The highly contagious disease, found in South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian countries, has killed at least 24 people and caused the deaths of more than 100 million fowl.

"We have determined that stronger safeguards are needed," the USDA said in a Federal Register notice. It noted there was an "increasing threat" that the dangerous strain of the disease could be introduced into the United States.

However, because of an existing U.S. trade ban on another poultry disease in Asia, the impact of the expanded action will affect mostly unprocessed down feathers, the USDA said. For the past four years, the United States has barred imports of any live poultry, poultry meat or eggs from much of Asia due to concerns about the Exotic Newcastle disease.

The USDA said birds and poultry products, such as feathers and birds' nests, from affected Asian countries would not be allowed into the United States unless approved by the department. Pet birds and singing or performing birds that have spent any time in the affected countries are also prohibited.