On Sept. 29, 2023, The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it had is placed restrictions on the importation of poultry from France, as well as live ducks, duck eggs, and unmitigated/untreated duck products from the APHIS-recognized European Poultry Trade Region (EPTR, excluding Great Britain) as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. These restrictions were due to increased risk of introducing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) into the U.S. and were effective October 1, 2023.

The restrictions were based on the World Organisation for Animal Health’s definition of poultry and are the result of France’s decision to vaccinate commercial meat ducks against HPAI.  France’s decision to vaccinate presents a risk of introducing HPAI into the U.S.

The United States does not allow the import of poultry from countries affected with HPAI or from flocks that have been vaccinated by HPAI.  Vaccination of poultry against HPAI virus may mask HPAI virus circulating in poultry. Vaccinated birds may not show signs of HPAI infection, which could lead to the export of infected live animals or virus-contaminated products to the U.S.