Is there a risk to importing pet birds that come from countries experiencing outbreaks of avian influenza A (H5N1)?
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Answer:
The U.S. government has determined that there is a risk to importing pet birds from countries experiencing outbreaks of H5N1 influenza. In order to protect the United States from the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains trade restrictions and regulations on the importation of poultry and poultry products from HPAI-affected countries with HPAI-affected domestic poultry. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for enforcing these laws. Importation of live poultry, commercial birds, pet birds, and/or “hatching eggs” from countries affected by the virus is not allowed into the United States. USDA continually updates its import procedures to reflect the most current disease status information that could affect U.S. imports.
In addition to import restrictions, USDA quarantines and tests live birds imported into the United States to ensure that they are not carrying any foreign animal diseases such as the HPAI H5N1 virus. All pet birds and live poultry from countries that are allowed to export them into the United States (except Canada) must be quarantined for at least 30 days at a USDA animal import center and tested for the avian influenza virus.
To combat illegal importation of pet birds and poultry, USDA maintains an anti-smuggling program. The officers involved in this program work cooperatively with the CBP at U.S. ports of entry. For a complete list of countries, go to the USDA Web site http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/live_animals.shtml.
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Last Updated: 07/03/2008
