The USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service will be clarifying the export library for China to make it more clear that for states with restrictions for avian influenza, it is the date of signature that controls the acceptability of the product, not the date of production. In addition, it is important to note that the restrictions placed by China apply not only to states where the product is produced, but also to states where the product is stored. For example, if poultry is produced in a state with no avian influenza restrictions, but is then stored in a state that does have avian influenza restrictions, the export certificate must have been signed prior to the date of restriction for the product to be accepted in China. It is important to note that this is not a policy change, rather a clarification of existing policy to avoid any confusion.
