China Bans Imports of U.S. Poultry Amid Bird-Flu Concerns

http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-bans-imports-of-u-s-poultry-amid-bird-flu-concerns-1421095231

China has banned imports of U.S. poultry and eggs following the detection of avian flu in noncommercial flocks in the U.S. late last year, according to a U.S. poultry-industry group.

The ban follows the discoveries last month of a strain of H5N8 influenza in wild birds and in a so-called backyard flock of guinea fowl and chickens in Oregon, as well as the detection of another strain in California and Washington. The cases were confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

China’s ban affects shipments of breeding stock, including live chicks and hatching eggs, as well as poultry and eggs, according to the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council on Monday. The group criticized China’s decision, saying the bird flu outbreaks in the U.S. have occurred far away from the major U.S. commercial poultry-production regions.