Winnipeg | Reuters — Japan and Taiwan have imposed trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products from Ontario, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday, a day after avian flu was confirmed in the province.
The government agency said a turkey farm near Woodstock, Ont. was under quarantine after the presence of H5 avian influenza was confirmed there on Monday. It said seven other farms nearby were also under quarantine.
About 7,500 birds have died at the first farm, and the remaining 4,500 in the infected barn are scheduled to be killed Wednesday.
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Ontario is Canada’s biggest turkey-producing province.
Avian flu was detected in December in British Columbia and has spread to numerous U.S. states, from Minnesota to California.
CFIA vice-president of policy and programs Paul Mayers said the agency was testing to confirm the subtype and pathogenicity of the Ontario virus, with results expected within days.
Taiwan and Japan are small markets for Canada, totalling about $9 million in sales last year. But trade restrictions also remain in place from 10 other countries over the B.C. outbreak, including Australia and Brazil.
Avian flu’s spread has not affected sales at Maple Leaf Foods, which processes poultry in Ontario mainly for domestic use, spokesman Dave Bauer said.
— Rod Nickel is a Reuters correspondent covering the agriculture and mining sectors from Winnipeg.
