US and Canada ease ban on French poultry imposed after bird flu vaccination

PARIS (Reuters) - The United States and Canada have lifted embargoes on certain French poultry imports imposed after Paris decided to vaccinate ducks against bird flu in October 2023, the French agriculture ministry said on Monday.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, is a viral disease that has ravaged poultry flocks worldwide in recent years, notably in France and the United States. There has also been evidence of transmission beyond birds, including dairy cows and farm workers in the U.S.

France requires vaccination of ducks to try to limit the spread of the disease, making it the world's first large exporter to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign against bird flu.

But some countries are concerned that vaccinated birds pose a risk as they may not show signs of infection, meaning it is impossible to determine whether the virus is in a flock.

"After more than a year of negotiations, French authorities have succeeded in convincing the U.S. and Canadian authorities of the safety of HPAI vaccination," the agriculture ministry said in a statement.

"They have therefore announced the lifting of restrictions on unvaccinated poultry and poultry products/by-products from unvaccinated flocks, while 'maintaining the safety of agricultural trade'," it added.

The United States also lifted its embargo on exports of ducks and duck products from other European Union member states, the French ministry said.

French health authorities were in contact with their U.S. and Canadian counterparts to finalise the practicalities for resuming exports of avian genetics (hatching eggs and day-old chicks) to these destinations.

While French poultry exports to the U.S. and Canada are very small, shipments of avian genetics are more common.

(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Mark Potter)