China lifts HPAI-related poultry export restrictions for 17 U.S. states

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has updated its China export restrictions webpage to confirm that China lifted highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)-related poultry export restrictions for 17 U.S. states, effective 15 May 2026.

The states listed by APHIS are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

According to APHIS, only poultry products produced on or after 15 May 2026 are eligible for export to China from these states.

China had previously restricted raw poultry imports from U.S. states affected by HPAI outbreaks. Under the 2020 Regionalization Agreement between the two countries, restrictions are meant to be lifted at state level 90 days after cleaning and disinfection procedures are completed.

Industry reports stated that China had not been abiding by that provision in recent years. It has now been reported that APHIS confirmed China agreed to resume implementation of the terms of the 2020 Regionalization Agreement.

Under that framework, APHIS may submit state closeout reports 90 days after cleaning and disinfection are completed. China then has five days to review the reports and lift restrictions where applicable.

Despite the latest update, APHIS indicated that 27 U.S. states remain under poultry export restrictions related to HPAI.

Several major broiler-producing states, including Georgia, Mississippi and Missouri, have recently reached the 90-day post-cleaning and disinfection milestone. According to industry reports, APHIS closeout reports for those states could be expected soon.

The National Chicken Council described the reinstatement of the regionalization framework as a significant development for U.S. poultry exports. NCC President Harrison Kircher stated that China remains an important market for U.S. chicken products, particularly chicken paws, and said restoration of access would have a meaningful impact on export volumes of U.S. chicken.

Source: www.nationalchickencouncil.org