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Frank is Fed Up with the Feds Falsehoods
CFIA Disinformation #8 – International Trade
Edgewood, BC – June 10, 2025
Disinformation Response to two CFIA Statements (May 31, 2025):
- Update on the CFIA’s actions at an HPAI infected premises at a BC ostrich farm
- CFIA’s basis for applying disease control measures at an avian influenza infected ostrich farm
Let’s get the truth out. Tune in regularly for Frankly Speaking episodes in the CFIA Disinformation series.
International Trade
CFIA’s Disinformation #8: Several trading partners such as Mexico, Japan and Taiwan currently restrict the import of poultry products from the entire province of British Columbia due to the presence of HPAI. As the ostrich farm remains a confirmed infected premises in the province, the entire British Columbia poultry sector is not able to access certain export markets. Other trading partners such as China and South Africa currently restrict import of poultry products from all of Canada due to the ongoing presence of HPAI.
Response: Canada’s largest trading partner is the USA. Many top USA agencies such as HHS, NIH and FDA1 are supporting Universal Ostrich Farm and USA officials RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz are speaking out to save our birds and offering USA soil as a sanctuary for the ostriches. Clearly, the heads of USA agencies recognize the value of our flock.
Dr. Pelech’s expert report states “…[with] the ongoing presence of the virus in wild birds, Canada has continued to export poultry products, indicating that trade has not been halted by the lack of disease-free certification…” (S.Pelech, April 2025).2 Dr. Pelech further notes that the UOF is located within its own limited zone, and lack of enforcement of the Stamping-out Policy does not affect the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus disease-free status in other zones in BC or Canada for most trading purposes of animal products. Over the last three years, there has been few periods in which there has not been a zone in Canada at a given time that has not had an outbreak in Canada of avian influenza, which would have eliminated Canada’s HPAI virus disease-free status as a country.
Several trading partners, including Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, China, and South Africa, impose restrictions on certain Canadian poultry products due to HPAI virus concerns. These restrictions apply uniformly across Canada and do not single out British Columbia.3
According to Statistics Canada, “Canada’s Exports of Poultry and Products 2023-24”, poultry exports have increased significantly: by 20.56% to Mexico, 51.39% to Taiwan, and 70.54% to China. 4 This is despite over 130 outbreaks of influenza virus in domestic bird farms in 2023 and 107 further outbreaks in 2024 in Canada.5
References:
1. Letter HHS to CFIA, dated May 23, 2025 https://saveourostriches.com/news/hhs-letter
2. Dr. Steven Pelech Expert Report, s.11, dated April 1, 2025.
3. Consolidated list of restrictions imposed by foreign countries because of Avian Influenza in all commodities – All areas (CFIA, May 30, 2025)
4. Suminder Sawhney, CFIA, Affidavit, Table 1, UOF vs. CFIA, dated March 18, 2025.
5. Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Reportable Avian Influenza in Domestic Birds: High Pathogeniity Avian Influenza in Domestic Birds. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
More Details: The facts are that Trading partners such as Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, China and South Africa all restrict certain poultry products from all of Canada. BC is not singled out in any country.
Our farm is remote, surrounded by no other poultry operations — it is, in effect, a natural quarantine zone. CFIA’s Primary Control Zone (PCZ) around UOF contains no other registered commercial poultry operations.
The following statement outlines the factual circumstances surrounding international poultry trade restrictions and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) Primary Control Zone (PCZ) policies, specifically as they pertain to the Universal Ostrich Farm (UOF) in Edgewood, British Columbia.
1. International Poultry Trade Restrictions: Several trading partners, including Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, China, and South Africa, impose restrictions on certain Canadian poultry products due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) concerns. These restrictions apply uniformly across Canada and do not single out British Columbia. Notably,
- China and South Africa have maintained restrictions on Canadian poultry for several years.
- Japan has imposed restrictions since March 18, 2022.
- Mexico’s restrictions, as detailed on the CFIA website (June 4, 2025), apply to live birds (e.g., day-old poultry, hatching eggs, songbirds, ornamental, and pet birds) and poultry meat (including offal and viscera) from provinces not deemed HPAI-free. Heat-treated poultry products and those produced 28 days or earlier from the date of an outbreak in a province are exempt with proper documentation (CFIA Inspection Canada, May 2025).
2. Primary Control Zone (PCZ) Details: The CFIA’s PCZ surrounding the UOF farm in Edgewood contains no other registered commercial poultry operations. The farm’s remote location effectively creates a natural quarantine zone, ensuring no risk of disease transmission to other poultry operations. Consequently, even in the event of an HPAI diagnosis, the farm poses no threat to international trade, as no other farms within the 10-mile PCZ engage in such trade.
3. Inconsistencies in CFIA Policy: The CFIA claims to prioritize the well-being of Canadian families and poultry farmers whose livelihoods depend on international market access. However, its policies, which mandate mass culling of healthy birds without clear evidence of disease, inflict significant emotional, financial, and psychological harm on these same stakeholders. This approach prioritizes trade optics over science-based, compassionate, and sustainable disease control measures. Rather than pursuing targeted testing, treatment, or research into immune resistance, the CFIA’s reliance on broad depopulation tactics undermines the livelihoods of small and mid-sized poultry farmers and erodes public trust.
In conclusion, the UOF farm’s isolation and the absence of trade activity within its PCZ demonstrate that it does not impact Canada’s international poultry trade. The CFIA’s policies, however, fail to align with its stated objectives, causing undue harm to Canadian farmers. We respectfully urge the adoption of more targeted, evidence-based disease control strategies to support the sustainability and resilience of Canada’s poultry industry.
Appendix A: Suminder Sawhney, CFIA, Affidavit (UOF vs. CFIA), dated March 18, 2025: Exhibit “F” – Canada’s exports of poultry and products – Value for 2023 and 2024.
We never thought we would have to speak out like this, but after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) published their May 30 (and now updated on May 31) media releases, we have no choice. What they released to the public is not science. It is by definition disinformation. Disinformation is “false information deliberately created and disseminated with the intent to mislead, manipulate, or cause harm.” Is this CFIA media release a narrative designed to justify the destruction of our farm, discredit our family, and protect a broken trade system?
Stay tuned… daily Frankly Speaking episodes are set to reveal the CFIA Disinformation series…
Media Contact:
Katie Pasitney
Spokesperson, Eldest Daughter, Universal Ostrich Farm
1-250-870-8246
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