Imports of birds and eggs from Canada suspended

The European Commission has today suspended imports of birds and eggs from Canada into the EU. This follows the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's confirmation of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a poultry farm in Fraser Valley, British Colombia.

In parallel, Defra has introduced an identical ban on imports of birds and eggs into England.

The avian influenza strain detected is of subtype H7N3. This is a different subtype to the virus currently circulating in certain Asian countries.

Ben Bradshaw, the animal health Minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:

"Avian influenza is a highly contagious poultry disease and we will do all we can to prevent the disease being introduced into UK poultry flocks via imports of birds, poultry products or eggs. I therefore welcome the action taken by the Commission to suspend imports."