Mexico lifts ban on Canadian fresh poultry imports imposed after avian flu

OTTAWA – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says Mexico has lifted a ban on Canadian fresh poultry meat imports that were put in place in 2004 after an outbreak of avian flu.

It says the industry estimates that lifting of the ban will open the way for exports including chicken, turkey and most significantly duck worth a combined total of roughly $3 million a year.

The government says it’s still working to lift the few import restrictions from avian flu still in place in Mexico.

The lifting of the fresh poultry ban comes after Mexico’s secretary of agriculture met with Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay in February.

Bilateral trade of agriculture and food products between Canada and Mexico totalled about $3.8 billion last year.