. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/856/Add.3 
28 March 2006 
 (06-1423) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
 
Addendum
 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 24 Marc h 2006, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegation of the United States. 
 
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Order To Embargo Birds and Bird  Products  
 
On 4 February 2004, the Centers for Disease C ontrol and Prevention (CDC) within the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services issued an  order to ban immediately the import of all birds 
(Class: Aves) from specified Southeast Asian countri es, subject to limited exemptions for returning 
pet birds of U.S. origin and certain processed bird-derived products.  HHS/CDC took this step 
because birds from these countries pot entially can infect humans with avian influenza (influenza A/ 
[H5N1]).  The 4 February 2004, order complemented a similar action taken at the same time by the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS ) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) 
 
On 10 March 2004, HHS/CDC lifted the embargo of birds and bird products from the Hong 
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) beca use of the documented public-health and animal 
health measures taken by Hong Kong officials to prevent spread of the outbreak with the HKSAR, 
and the absence of highly pathogenic avian influen za H5N1 cases in Hong Kong's domestic and wild 
bird populations.  USDA/APHIS took a similar action. 
 
On 28 September 2004, HHS/CDC extended the embargo on birds and bird products to 
include Malaysia because of the documented cases of  highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 in 
poultry in Malaysia.  On 20 July 2005, USDA/APHIS adopted as a final rule the interim rule that 
became effective on 4 February 2004, which amende d its regulations to prohibit or restrict the 
importation of birds, poultry, and unprocessed bi rds and poultry products from regions that have 
reported the presence of highly pathogenic avian in fluenza H5N1 in poultry. (See 70 Federal Register 
41608 [20 July 2005].)  As the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World 
Organization for Animal Health (O IE) have confirmed additional ca ses of highly pathogenic avian 
influenza (H5N1), USDA/APHIS has added additional countries to its ban.  
 
On 29 December 2005, HHS/CDC added the Republic  of Kazakhstan, Romania, the Russian 
Federation, the Republic of Turkey, and Ukraine to  its current embargo because of documented cases 
of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry in those countries.   
On 8 February 2006, HHS/CDC added Nigeria to its embargo because of the documentation 
of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry.  
 G/SPS/N/USA/856/Add.3 
Page 2  
 
  On 22 February 2006, HHS/CDC added India to  its embargo because of documentation of 
highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry.   
On 27 February 2006, added Egypt to its embargo because of documentation of highly 
pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry.  On  2 March 2006, CDC issued an amendment adding 
Niger to its embargo after H5N1 was confirmed in poultry. 
 
On February 24, 2006, OIE reported confirmati on of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 
in poultry in Azerbaijan.  7 On March 2006, OIE reported confirmation of highly pathogenic avian 
influenza H5N1 in poultry in Albania.  
 
On 11 March 2006, OIE reported confirmation of hi ghly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in 
poultry in Cameroon.  On 12 March 2006, OIE repor ted confirmation of highly pathogenic avian 
influenza H5N1 in poultry in Myanmar.  USDA/ APHIS subsequently added Albania, Azerbaijan, 
Cameroon, and Myanmar to their ban.  At this time, HHS/CDC is adding Albania, Azerbaijan, 
Cameroon, and Myanmar to its current embargo.  This action is effective on 15 March 2006, and will 
remain in effect until further notice.   This amendment was publis hed in the Federal Register
, 22 March 2006 (Volume 71, 
Number 55) Pages 14532-14533.  
 Ms Julie Morin, United States SPS Enquiry  Point Officer, USDA Foreign Agricultural 
Service, Food Safety & Technical Services Division, Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250.  Tel:  202-720-4051;  Fax:  202-690-0677;  Email:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov
 
 
 
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