VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Due to the avian flu outbreak in Oregon and Washington, raw poultry products sourced or shipped from those states are not allowed into Canada.

Just south of the border, Guy Occhiogrosso with the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce says the polutry and egg ban likely won’t be a big hit to businesses where Canadians shop.

“That is not one of the items that are listed very high; it’s not one that we talk about a great deal,” he tells us.

“Most of what it is are the dairy products. More so than that is just general merchandise that tends to be, I would say, the largest consumption from cross-border purchasers.”

Examples of prohibited items listed on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website include:

live birds and hatching eggs

eggs, yolks, egg whites (albumen)

poultry meat (other than fully cooked, canned, commercially sterile meat products)

raw pet foods containing poultry products

feathers

poultry manure and litter

laboratory material containing poultry products/by-products

The CFIA adds there is no food safety risk associated with these products, adding these steps are being taken to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into other parts of Canada.