Effective Dec. 1, and until further notice, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal  Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is restricting the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products from Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

As previously announced in November, VS continues to restrict the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products from Kagawa, Hyogo and Fukuoka Prefectures, Japan.

Any of these commodities originating from or transiting through Kagawa, Fukuoka, Hyogo, or Miyazaki Prefecture are prohibited, based on the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds.

Under these restrictions, processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting Kagawa, Fukuoka, Hyogo, or Miyazaki Prefecture imported as cargo must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements.

Fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and other egg products, void of the shell (i.e. liquid eggs, dried egg whites) originating from or transiting Kagawa, Fukuoka, Hyogo, or Miyazaki Prefecture imported as cargo are prohibited unless they are consigned from the port of arrival directly to an APHIS-approved breaking and pasteurization facility. An import permit and/or certificate is not required for these shipments when consigned to an APHIS-approved establishment.

Processed avian products and byproducts, including egg/egg products, for personal use originating from or transiting through Kagawa, Fukuoka, Hyogo, or Miyazaki Prefecture entering in passenger baggage, which do not have a thoroughly cooked appearance or are not shelf-stable as a result of APHIS-approved packaging and cooking (i.e. packaged in hermetically sealed containers and cooked by a commercial method after such packing to produce articles that are shelf stable without refrigeration), must also be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products/byproducts were treated according to APHIS requirements.

Unprocessed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting through Kagawa, Fukuoka, Hyogo, or Miyazaki Prefecture will not be permitted to enter the United States. This includes hunter-harvested, non-fully finished avian trophies and meat.

Importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, and hatching eggs will be prohibited. However, pet and zoo birds, pigeons, and doves may be imported under an APHIS import permit and will be subject to a 30-day quarantine at the New York Animal Import Center in Newburgh, N.Y,. or the Miami Animal Import Center in Miami, Fla.

APHIS said the restrictions will be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained. Current information can be found on the APHIS website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-and-animal-products-imports