The United States has imposed a ban on imports of poultry products from Victoria, Australia, due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H7N3). The ban, which took effect on May 22, restricts the importation of various poultry products, including commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products, and by-products.
This move is a response to the detection of the H7N3 strain of bird flu on two farms in Victoria, which has resulted in the culling of over 500,000 chickens. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has implemented the ban to prevent the potential spread of the virus and protect the U.S. poultry industry[2][3][4][5].
Citations:
[1] https://thefederal.com/category/business/spice-wars-indias-food-regulator-must-step-up-to-beat-export-bans-123996
[2] https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2024-05-25/united-states-of-america-bans-victorian-poultry-products/103893610
[3] https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/us-curbs-australian-poultry-imports-on-bird-flu-concerns-20240525-p5jgl2.html
[4] https://www.agriculture.com/u-s-curbs-certain-poultry-imports-from-australia-s-victoria-on-bird-flu-concerns-8654455
[5] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-restricts-import-certain-poultry-australia-state-bird-flu-concerns-2024-05-24/