International Egg and Poultry Review - By the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - This is a weekly report looking at international developments concerning the poultry industry, this week looking at the AI situation in Canada, and the Mexican threat to close the border with the US.

Mexico: Poultry producers could request a closing of the border

Poultry producers in Mexico warned that if the United States does not comply with opening the border to Mexican poultry exports, they will request that the Mexican government stop U.S. poultry imports. The President of the Poultry Producers Association (UNA), Cesar de Anda, protested against the U.S. government because it was agreed that they would allow Mexican imports of poultry cuts with aggregated value and processed eggs effective during the month of March.

However, the opening of the border has not taken place. Therefore, UNA is considering hardening their position and could request the closing of the border to U.S. poultry imports. UNA indicated that the United States insisted on the opening of the Mexican border after the ban, and Mexico agreed to partially open the border, however, de Anda claimed that poultry producers have not been able to access the U.S. market in ten years.

Source: USDA/FAS Attache Report

Egg Production and Consumption in India

India's population topped 1 billion in 2003 with a 1.47% projected growth rate. Estimated egg production for 2001-02 is 34.034 million pieces eggs and per capita availability has risen from 14 eggs in 1980 to 34 eggs in 2002.

Since 1991, the annual growth rate for eggs in India has averaged over 4 percent after averaging 7.69 percent in the 1980's. From 1995 to 2002, hen egg exports have increased from 2,635 MT in to 15,128 MT, . liquid whole eggs and yolks grew from 44 MT to 12,426 MT, dried whole eggs and yolks climbed from 305 MT to 3,366 MT.

Source: Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, FAO, news sources

India: Hen Egg Production in million pieces

Canada: Avian Influenza Update

On March 24 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced it would depopulate all remaining flocks in the high risk area of Fraser Valley after avian influenza was detected in two more farms in the Fraser Valley area of British Columbia. About 275,000 birds will be destroyed. This area includes a turkey breeder and a chicken farm that supplies eggs to chicken producers.

Canada expanded its ring surveillance program to a 10 km radius. A Ministerial Order prohibiting movement of poultry and poultry products, except under permit, was put in place in a Control Area in British Columbia. A total of five outbreaks of avian influenza have occurred within a 5 kilometer radius around the first outbreak. This is the High Risk Area. Outside that is a 10 kilometer Surveillance Zone. The surrounding area, encompassing the Fraser Valley, is the Control Area.

Fraser Valley is a major poultry processing area and farmers are having to place product in cold storage. One company representative estimated 200 tons of chicken were going into freezers daily.

In 2001 British Columbia had 18,820,347 hens and chickens; 13,972,170 broilers, roasters and Cornish hens; 1,436,793 pullets under 19 weeks, intended for laying; 3,411384 laying hens, 19 weeks and over; 819,569 turkeys and 847,617 other poultry.

To view the full report, including tables please click here (PDF Format)

Source: USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - 30th March 2004