Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 1/20/16


The United States, Canada and Mexico and their respective poultry and egg industries jointly announced they have entered an arrangement to enhance collaboration on avian influenza (AI) and work toward harmonizing procedures for responding to possible future detections of the virus.

Government animal health authorities from the three countries, together with the heads of trade associations that represent the poultry and egg industries, signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) on avian influenza during a ceremony Tuesday in Los Cabos.

“Mexico and Canada represent the lion’s share of our poultry and egg trade,” said Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC). “Together, these two markets account for more than two-thirds of all U.S. turkey exports, nearly two-thirds of our egg trade, and a third of our broiler exports – an annual value of almost $2 billion. That’s about one-third of the value of all U.S. poultry and egg exports in any given year.”

The LOU recognizes that the spread of AI by migratory birds is perhaps one of greatest challenges facing the global poultry industry, and that it is incumbent on the partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement to harmonize their methods for dealing with AI to keep their poultry production systems safe and sustainable, and to minimize trade disruptions that can result from AI detections in commercial poultry.

The arrangement also creates a tripartite working group composed of government animal health officials and industry representatives from the three countries that will serve as a forum for regular scientific discussions on AI and which will also consider any recommendations involving AI made by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

The LOU establishes clear objectives for enhanced cooperation and lays the groundwork for sharing technical information on AI prevention, control, preparedness, recovery, and the risks of AI posed by migratory birds.

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