Import Alert: HPAI restrictions for avian commodities originating from or transiting Mexico

Issuance Date: June 26, 2012

Updated Date: October 05, 2023

Effective immediately, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is placing temporary prohibitions on the 

importation of poultry, commercial birds, other types of birds (research and performing birds), ratites, 

any avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and by-products, and certain fresh poultry products 

from Mexico. Any of these commodities originating from or transiting through Mexico are prohibited 

entry to the United States, based on the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial 

poultry. These restrictions may be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained.

Processed avian products and by-products originating from or transiting through Mexico imported as 

cargo must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that

the products were treated according to APHIS requirements.

Processed avian products and by-products for personal use originating from or transiting through Mexico 

entering in passenger baggage not having a thoroughly cooked appearance, or not shelf-stable as a result 

of APHIS approved packaging and cooking (i.e. packaged in hermetically sealed containers and cooked 

by a commercial method after such packing to produce articles that are shelf stable without 

refrigeration), must also be accompanied by a VS import permit and/or government certification 

confirming that the products/by-products were treated according to APHIS requirements.

Unprocessed avian products and by-products originating from or transiting through Mexico will not be 

permitted to enter the United States in passenger baggage. This includes hunter harvested avian meat 

and carcasses.

Hunter harvested avian meat and carcasses must have a thoroughly cooked appearance. 

Most inedible avian commodities (other than hunting trophies) from Mexico will require an APHIS 

import permit as part of the entry documentation. Please refer to the APHIS VS Permitting Assistant to 

determine the import requirements for a specific inedible avian commodity:

https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/s/vs-permitting-assistant.

Avian trophies entering the U.S. from Mexico must be fully finished, consigned to a USDA approved 

taxidermist, or accompanied by an APHIS import permit.

Fresh poultry products will continue to be allowed, with the appropriate certification, only from APHIS 

approved poultry processing establishments. A list of APHIS approved establishments can be found 

here: www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/import/approved-plants-for-mexican-poultry.pdf.

1. TIF Establishment 241 – Productura de Bocados Carnicos S.A. de C.V. 

Monterrey.
2. TIF Establishment 636 – TAOS Alimentos, S.A. De C.V., Col. Parque Industrial, 

Hermosillo Son. Mexico.

3. TIF Establishment 483 – Alimentos SBF de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.

All pet birds (both U.S. origin and non-U.S. origin), zoo birds, and pigeons and doves (Columbiformes) 

may be imported under an APHIS import permit and will be subject to a 30-day quarantine at the New 

York Animal Center in Newburgh, NY or the Miami Animal Import Center in Miami, FL. 

These restrictions will be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained. Current 

information is available on the APHIS website.