Protecting America’s

Live Bird Markets

To address the persistence of low pathogenicity avian

influenza (LPAI) associated with the live bird marketing system in the United States, Veterinary Services

(VS), a program within the U.S. Department of

Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service (APHIS), is instituting a cooperative program with States and industry to prevent and

control the disease not only in the markets themselves, but also among production premises and

poultry distributors that supply those markets. The

program establishes an important relationship that

requires commercial and noncommercial industries to

work together to protect America’s flocks.

Although birds affected with LPAI often show few

or no clinical signs, the disease is highly contagious

and its H5 and H7 subtypes have the potential to

mutate into high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI).

HPAI results in high mortality rates for poultry and

causes trading partners to implement immediate

trade restrictions. In other countries, cases of human

infection have been linked to HPAI. Therefore, VS’

LPAI program may have human health benefits as

well. The program was first proposed to USDA in

2003 by the U.S. Animal Health Association. The

control and prevention program targeting the live bird

marketing system has multiple goals:

• Diagnose, control, and prevent the H5 and H7 

LPAI subtypes;

• Improve biosecurity, sanitation, and disease 

control at participating operations; and

• Minimize the effects of LPAI on the U.S.

commercial poultry industry.

These goals are achieved through regular monitoring and surveillance of all facilities in participating

States. If LPAI is detected, a series of measures will

be undertaken to clean, disinfect, and depopulate the

affected premises in order to quickly contain and

eradicate the disease. If no cases are found, such a

program can help document that the United States is

free of the H5 and H7 subtypes of the disease.

The LPAI program is coordinated by VS’ National

Center for Animal Health Programs, which provides

personnel and resources to assist States’ implementation and compliance with program requirements.

Training is a key component of the program and

ensures that employees at all participating facilities

understand what biosecurity protocols are and why

they are important for preventing the spread of disease and for protecting animal health.

States are responsible for enforcing LPAI 

program standards. Should LPAI be detected,

Federal indemnification is available to participating

facilities that follow all program directives. In order for

a State to join the LPAI program, all of its live bird

markets, as well as producers and distributors that

supply those markets, must be registered or licensed

with the State and must allow Federal and State

inspectors access to their facilities, birds, and

records. These facilities must also have written

biosecurity protocols in place.

Under the program, testing is carried out by

Federal and State officials. Samples for testing are

collected by State and Federal animal health technicians, veterinary medical officers, and Federally

accredited veterinarians. For most bird species, 

tracheal swabs are collected, but for waterfowl, cloacal swabs are taken. In addition, swabs taken from

the environment at markets, production premises,

and distribution locations are also tested for LPAI.

This can include swabs of such things as conveyances and crates. Blood samples are also collected from poultry at production premises to qualify

them for movement into the live bird marketing system. These swab and blood samples are submitted

to USDA–approved State and university laboratories

to test for the LPAI virus.

All approved laboratories must pass an annual

proficiency test in order to participate in the program.

Any avian influenza (AI) positive samples are sent to

VS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories in

Ames, IA, to confirm the subtype of the virus and to

test the pathogenicity of the virus.

Live Bird Market Requirements

• Live bird markets may be tested for LPAI at any 

time, but testing must occur at least quarterly.

• Live bird market personnel must receive 

biosecurity training, and training records must be 

available and maintained in personnel files.

• Live bird markets are required to undergo 

regular, quarterly closures with depopulation, 

cleaning, and disinfection and downtime of at 

least 24 hours.

• Markets must be inspected by a State or Federal 

animal health official before reopening.

• Live bird markets that test positive for H5 and H7 

subtypes will undergo mandatory closure. Such 

markets will be required to depopulate and 

perform cleaning and disinfection.

Factsheet

Veterinary Services January 2007

APHIS
• Before a live bird market can reopen for 

business, the facility must pass inspection by a 

State or Federal animal health official and be 

retested. If the results are positive, the market will

be shut down again and the sanitation process 

will be repeated, followed by inspection and 

retesting.

• Any live bird market that tests positive for H5 and 

H7 subtypes, will be required to undergo monthly 

testing. Should a positive result occur again, the 

market will be shut down for depopulation and 

cleaning and disinfection. After three consecutive 

negative tests, the market will be able to return to 

a schedule of quarterly testing.

• Whenever birds are found to be positive, for H5 

and H7 subtypes, an investigation will be initiated 

to determine where the virus is occurring in the 

system.

• Markets are responsible for verifying bird 

identification and obtaining documentation of 

negative AI test results for all birds at the time of 

their receipt. If records are not available, the birds

cannot enter the market. Records for avian 

species, which include their date of entry and 

premise of origin identification number, must be 

retained for at least 12 months.

Poultry Distributor Requirements

• Poultry distributors, including dealers, haulers, 

auction markets, and wholesalers, are subject to 

random inspections by State and Federal officials.

These random inspections will be performed at 

least quarterly to ensure equipment is clean and 

sanitary and that records are being kept in accord

with program requirements.

• Distributors’ property including facilities, 

conveyances, crates, and birds, will be tested at 

least quarterly for AI.

• Distributors’ facilities that test positive for H5 and 

H7 subtypes of AI will undergo depopulation of 

any birds on the premises followed by cleaning 

and disinfection.

• Any distributor’s birds that tests positive for H5 

and H7 subtypes will be required to undergo 

monthly testing. After three consecutive negative 

tests, the distributor will be able to return to a 

schedule of quarterly testing.

• Whenever birds are found to be positive, an 

investigation will be initiated to determine where 

H5 or H7 AI subtypes are occurring in the system.

• Distributors may only accept properly identified 

and properly documented birds from AI negative 

flocks with certification of negative test results 

accompanying each delivery of birds.

Documentation and laboratory results must be 

provided when birds are delivered to other 

distributors and to the live bird markets.

• Distributors must maintain records of bird pickups 

and deliveries for 12 months.

• Distributor vehicles, bird–holding devices, and any

premises where birds are held must be clean and 

sanitary at all times. Before a distributor returns 

to a farm after visiting a live bird market, all cages,

vehicles, and other equipment must undergo

cleaning and disinfection.

• Distributors may not transport live birds or other 

live animals from live bird markets.

Production Premises Requirements

• All birds provided to a distributor or directly to a 

live bird market from a production premise must 

originate from an AI–negative flock. Production 

facilities and equipment must be clean and 

sanitary at all times. Categories of production 

premises and the testing requirements for each 

category are as follows:

1. LPAI–monitored flocks are tested monthly 

for the virus for at least 3 months. At least 30

birds per flock must be tested 10 days prior to

movement.

2. Established flocks are those that have been 

maintained together for at least 21 days prior 

to sample collection with no additions to the 

flock. To qualify for the first shipment or to 

requalify after any breaks in the monthly 

sample–testing regimen, 30 birds must be 

tested within 10 days prior to movement.

3. Commingled flocks are defined as groups of

poultry from multiple sources that have been 

assembled for one or more shipments. When 

untested birds are added to the flock, 

previous test reports are void and the flock 

must requalify as an established flock. This 

requires that they wait 21 days before 

sampling and are tested 10 days prior to 

movement.

4. Nonmonitored flocks are those which have 

not been on a program of monthly testing for 

at least 3 months. To qualify for sale in the 

live bird market system, 30 birds in the flock 

must be tested within 10 days of movement.

• In addition to testing regimens, production 

premises may be subjected to random inspections

and testing by State and Federal animal health 

officials to ensure that their property, 

conveyances, and coops are clean and sanitary 

and that records are being kept in accord with 

program requirements.

• Findings of H5 or H7 AI will result in a quarantine 

of the infected premises, depopulation, and 

cleaning and disinfection. The premises will be 

inventoried in order to conduct tracebacks and 

traceforwards and to stop any possible spread of 

the disease. A negative environmental test result 

is required before restocking.
• Flock test records, as well as records of bird 

transfers, must be maintained for 12 months.

Birds loaded for transportation to a distributor 

must be identified by premises of origin and must 

contain an appropriate date or lot number that will

distinguish the shipment from others.

• Birds from production premises may not be sold 

directly to live bird markets unless the flock owner

or manager is also registered as a distributor.

Additional Information

For more information about APHIS programs and

AI, please visit our Web site at

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative

means for communication of program information (Braille, large

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.