Exotic Newcastle Disease
Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) is a contagious and fatal viral disease that affects all species of birds. END is one of the most infectious diseases of poultry in the world and is so deadly that many birds die without showing any signs of disease. A death rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. END can infect and cause death even in vaccinated birds.

Avian Influenza
There are many strains of avian influenza (AI) virus that can cause illness in birds. AI viruses can infect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl, as well as a wide variety of other birds. Migratory waterfowl are a natural reservoir for the less infectious strains of the disease known as low pathogen avian influenza.

Health officials are concerned that the highly infectious H5N1 form of the disease could be transmitted from an Asian bird species to a North American one from the Pacific Flyway migration route when both begin arriving in Alaska. However some health officials are certain that the global trade in pets, illegal wildlife and animal parts could prove to be the more likely route for the deadly virus to reach the United States.

Increased penalties
Bird smugglers who get caught will be facing much higher fines. The fines will increase to $1,000 for an individual smuggler and $10,000 for a commercial smuggler.

Bird seizures
In less than one month, agriculture specialists at the Nogales port of entry found six parrots (including Green-Cheeked Amazon and White-Front Amazon), five Conures (including Sun Conures), three parrotlets, six parakeets, two Painted Buntings, two cardinals, three canaries, two finches, one sparrow, three doves, two quail, three ducks, and four baby chickens. The birds were hidden in jacket pockets, under blankets, under seats, in luggage, and even stuffed into cans of infant formula in attempts to hide them from CBP officers and Agriculture Specialists at the port of entry. Fines levied against violators totaled more than $5000.

All live birds are turned over the U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services, who will dispose of, re-export or quarantine the birds.

What follows is a partial listing of birds seized around the country. Nogales, Ariz. Physical examination of a vehicle coming from Mexico revealed two undeclared live Conures. The birds were seized and turned over to USDA. Otay Mesa, Calif. One live Amazon parrot was discovered under the passenger seat of a vehicle arriving from Mexico. The occupant of the vehicle was assessed a $700 penalty. Five undeclared parakeets were discovered hidden within personal belongings in the back of a pickup arriving from Mexico. A $250 penalty was levied. A CBP officer discovered eight undeclared live fighting roosters in a vehicle arriving from Mexico. The occupants of the vehicle were given a $400 penalty and the roosters were turned over to Veterinary Services. One Lilac-Crowned Amazon Parrot from Mexico was discovered hidden under the passenger seat of an automobile. A $700 penalty was levied. San Francisco, Calif. A passenger coming from Mexico was found to have two undeclared birds but was given no fine. Miami, Fla. Six undeclared birds from Cuba were discovered concealed inside plastic tubes that had been wrapped around the passenger’s waist. This was not the first time this passenger had attempted to smuggle birds into the United States. The passenger was arrested. Port Everglades, Fla. Eleven undeclared Cuban Birds were discovered in Preclearance Bahamas. The traveler and the birds were turned over to local authorities. Dunseith, N.D. Two undeclared live Canada goose chicks were discovered in the trunk of a passenger vehicle. The chicks were seized and turned over to Fish and Wildlife. An agent for Fish and Wildlife returned the birds to Canada. No penalty was levied. San Ysidro, N.M. During an inspection of a vehicle coming from Mexico, CBP officers noticed two birds under the driver's seat. The birds were seized and transferred to USDA, and the driver was given a $250 penalty. El Paso, Tex. Eight undeclared live birds discovered hidden in a passenger vehicle arriving from Mexico. One American Kestrel (Sparrow hawk), two Green Jays, two Cardinals, one Finch, one White Crowned Sparrow, and one Vireo were found in the 2006 Toyota SUV. The vehicle was seized and no penalty was given. Hidalgo/Pharr, Tex. Two baby chicks were seized from a vehicle arriving from Mexico. No penalty was levied.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Nogales port of entry

Some of the birds rescued from smugglers at the Nogales port of entry.

In addition to these live birds, numerous eggs and bird and poultry products have been seized. These birds may be beautiful to look at, but nine out of ten birds die during the smuggling attempt. The smuggler doesn’t care; if he can sell one bird he has recouped his expenditures many times over.

CBP officers, Border Patrol agents and agriculture specialists are working to stop this vicious and dangerous practice of submitting birds and other animals to inhumane conditions and to keep potentially deadly diseases and pests out of this country. EC

Think twice about that apple! Bringing agricultural products back to the United States from your trip? Effective October 1, fines are going up for agricultural violations. Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte A beagle finds an illegal food product that may contain pests harmful to U.S. agriculture. If you break the rules on agricultural imports, the spot settlement has increased from $250 to $300. The good news is that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is protecting American Agriculture at the Ports of Entry. CBP hopes that these fines serve as a deterrent so the traveling public will declare all agricultural and food products to a CBP officer. The bad news is that for the second violation, even when there is no evidence of concealment nor misrepresentation and the importation represents a non-commercial activity, the fine goes up to $500.

A discussion with Thai fruit exporters

Everyone enjoys a nice piece of fruit, but have you ever thought of what has to happen to get that fruit into the United States?

Photo Credit: Roger West

Well-managed rows of dragon fruit trees on the Charoen Perawat Fruit Orchard

Roger West, Director, Agricultural Safeguarding, Office of Agriculture Programs and Liaison, traveled to Thailand to meet with potential exporters of fruit. The Thai Department of Export Promotion sponsored the trip, and West was accompanied by a delegation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who informed the exporters of the regulations they would need to follow to prepare the fruit for export to the United States. Roger West then explained what is needed to clear a shipment (e.g., the 24-hour rule and wood packing marking requirements) and how shipments of agriculture products are handled when they reach U.S. ports.

In the past the only fruit imported from Thailand was pineapple because of the fruit flies and seed weevils that exist in Thailand. The government of Thailand wants to expand to exporting mangoes, mangosteens, lychees, longans and rambutans in addition to pineapple, and is working with USDA on a proposed rule to allow irradiated fruit to be shipped to the United States.

THAIFEX
The group also visited THAIFEX - World of Food Asia 2006, where West gave a presentation on what happens to agriculture shipments when they reach the United States. THAIFEX is a conference for food importers, wholesalers, distributors, food manufacturers and processors, supermarkets, department stores, grocery stores, fast food, hotel and restaurant chains and franchisers from all over the world. It is a large important show with 850 companies exhibiting and more than 60,000 visitors.

Participating countries were Thailand, Europe, the United States, Australia, Asia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam with visitors from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Philippines, and Taiwan.

Photo Credit: Roger West

Baskets of rambutans, one of the fruits that will be acceptable after radiation.

After the trade show the group went on a plantation visit to Charoen Perawat Fruit Orchard where they saw the types of fruit that the Thai government wants to export to the United States. The orchard was created in 1999, to provide safe, high quality fruit that meets international standards. It is also a demonstration orchard to provide information to Thai farmers on the technology needed to compete in the global marketplace.

Because of this visit by Roger West and USDA, in the not too distant future we could be seeing more varieties of fruit coming from Thailand than just pineapple. EC