Over the past eight weeks, the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) has performed tirelessly to communicate with importing nations to convince them of the eligibility of the U.S. to supply eggs, broiler and turkey meat free of avian influenza virus. Following the 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epornitic, USAPEEC recognized the vulnerability of the U.S. if importing nations imposed national or statewide bans following an isolated case of Avian Influenza, irrespective of pathogenicity. The benefits of the diplomacy and negotiations are now evident as the U.S. has apparently maintained export volume during March and April, albeit with some selection of plants of origin routes of transport and ports of loading.
Acceptance of regionalization as accepted by the World Organization of Animal Health has been the key to the ability of the U.S. to continue shipping products. Convincing potential customers of the validity of regionalization and assuring them of the ability of the U.S. to diagnose and contain outbreaks and maintain an effective program of surveillance has been the responsibility of the USAPEEC. Dr. John Clifford, in his previous 
role as Chief Veterinary Officer represented the USDA-APHIS in international venues and gained the confidence of his then counterparts in importing nations. It is fortuitous that his experience and credibility are now applied as Veterinary Trade Policy Advisor to the USPEEC to assist CEO Jim Sumner and his team to maintain export volume.
USAPEEC has served as an important link among USDA-APHIS, producers and shippers. The Council has responded with effective communication as the HPAI situation has developed.
Recent achievements include:-
- Cuba has reduced restrictions to county-wide bans and will lift restrictions 28 days after completion of cleaning and disinfection, bringing this important importing nation into conformity with OIE recommendations
- Taiwan has now placed bans on the basis of production dates in place of shipping dates. This will allow product harvested more than 14 days before the detection of HPAI to be eligible for export.
- USAPEEC has been instrumental in translating and interpreting requirements imposed by importers, especially with regard to dates relating to bans and transshipment of sealed containers from the plant of origin to the port of loading.
- China has now agreed that shipments from states in which HPAI has occurred will be allowed entry if an issued health certificate predates the confirmation of HPAI. This requirement will allow product loaded into containers to be consigned without logistic delays.
- USAPEEC has coordinated proposed audits of processing plants authorized for export. Currently, the Council is advocating audits of systems to obviate individual plant visits and audits conducted by representatives of importing nations. These are both expensive for both parties and disruptive to plants without serving a practical purpose.
During the recent months of turbulence associated with outbreaks of HPAI, the USAPEEC has facilitated movement of product through preemptive planning, application of scientific principles and demonstrating compliance with OIE policies. The industry owes the Council and its dedicated staff a debt of gratitude.