The United States and Canada have lifted bans on imports of some French poultry products, deeming them safe after a vaccination campaign for ducks against bird flu, which has been going on since 2023.
“After more than a year of negotiations, French authorities have succeeded in convincing the US and Canadian authorities of the safety of HPAI vaccination," the French agriculture ministry said Monday in a statement, referring to Highly pathogenic avian influenza, the virus known as bird flu.
Bird flu has decimated flocks in France and the US in recent years, and has been spreading through Europe this winter.
France has been trying to limit the spread with a vaccination campaign it started in October 2023, focused on ducks raised for foie gras, which are particularly vulnerable.
But some countries, including the US and Canada, were concerned that vaccinated birds may not show signs of infection, meaning it is impossible to determine whether the virus is in a flock.
France reports bird flu outbreak just weeks after declaring virus-free status
More steps to come
In a reversal, they are now allowing imports of unvaccinated poultry and products from unvaccinated poultry the Agriculture Ministry said.
Poultry exports to the US and Canada are small, however, compared to poultry genetic material – hatching eggs and chicks – whose export status is still still being worked out.
The US also lifted its embargo on exports of ducks and duck products from other European Union member states, the French ministry said.
(with Reuters)
