WHEREAS, based on the final report submitted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Ottawa to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) last 19 July, 2004, the identified zone is no longer considered as infected;

WHEREAS, after the detection and report of the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) due to H7N3 virus subtype in the Fraser Valley area of Southern British Columbia, on the same farm where a non-pathogenic avian influenza had been reported, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-food declared a Control Area in the affected areas;

WHEREAS, a stamping out policy was adopted and depopulation of the entire Control Area was done;

WHEREAS, based on the extensive surveillance conducted around the Control Area, indicates that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been eradicated from commercial and backyard flocks in this area;

WHEREAS, based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from British Columbia, Canada is negligible;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARTHUR C. YAP, Secretary of Agriculture, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby lift the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen originating from British Columbia, Canada.

All import transactions of the above products shall be in accordance with the existing rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry and National Meat Inspection Commission (DA-BAI-NMIC).

All orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

This ORDER shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 13 Sept. 2004


(SGD.) ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary