Newcastle Disease, Finland , July 22, 2004

Impact Worksheet

Summary:  The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland on July 20, 2004 reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease on a premises in Satakunta.  The affected flock contained 12,000 fattening turkeys.  The infection was detected during routine screening, and no clinical signs of the disease were apparent.  Control measures include destruction of all birds on the infected premises and creation of protection and surveillance zones from which trade in live poultry and poultry products are prohibited. 

The US imported no products of concern (poultry meat, eggs, feathers) from Finland in 2003 or through May 2004.  Only one live avian, a pet bird, was imported from Finland during 2004 to date.  All live poultry and other bird species imported into the US (except from Canada) are required to have a USDA issued import permit, a health certificate issued by a government veterinarian in the country of origin, and be quarantined for 30 days in a USDA animal import quarantine facility.  This includes pet birds as well as commercial birds.  During the quarantine period, the birds are tested for various infectious pathogens.

In 2003, Finland had approximately 6 million chickens and produced 83,730 metric tons of chicken meat and 56,170 metric tons of hen eggs.  Finland exported over 6,500 metric tons of chicken meat, including canned product, accounting for less than 1% of world exports of these products. 

How extensive is the Newcastle disease outbreak in Finland , and what was Finland ’s disease status prior to the outbreak?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland on July 20, 2004 reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease on a premises in Satakunta (see map).  The affected flock contained 12,000 fattening turkeys.  The infection was detected during routine screening, and no clinical signs of the disease were apparent.  Diagnostic testing included serology, virus isolation and RT-PCR.  The agent has been identified as a paramyxovirus-1 subtype with an intracerebral pathogenicity index of 1.6.  Control measures include destruction of all birds on the infected premises and creation of protection and surveillance zones from which trade in live poultry and poultry products are prohibited.  The last reported outbreak of Newcastle disease in Finland was in September 1996.  The US recognizes Finland as free of Newcastle disease.

On July 20, 2004, Newcastle disease was reported on two neighboring commercial premises in southeastern Sweden (County of Ostergotland).  The two premises had a combined total of 73,400 laying hens; all birds were depopulated and the facilities disinfected.  The causal agent was identified as a Paramyxovirus-1 with an intracerebral pathogenicity index of 1.45.  Sweden ’s last reported outbreak of Newcastle disease was in 2003 in a hobby flock.  The US recognizes Sweden as free of Newcastle disease.

The USDA National Center for Import and Export is monitoring these outbreaks in Finland and Sweden , and will take actions as deemed appropriate.

Source: OIE Disease Information Report, USDA National Center for Import and Export

What is Finland ’s place in the international market for poultry and poultry products?

In 2003, Finland had approximately 6 million chickens and produced 83,730 metric tons of chicken meat and 56,170 metric tons of hen eggs (Table 1).  Finland exported over 6,500 metric tons of chicken meat, including canned product, accounting for less than 1% of world exports of these products.  Finland exported small quantities of other poultry products including live chickens, turkey meat, other bird meat, and fatty liver (foie gras) (Table 2).

Table 1.  Poultry Stocks and Production, Finland , 2002 and 2003

Table 2.  Exports of live animal and animal products, Finland , 2001 – 2002

Exports	2001		2002		% of World in 2002
	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)
Live birds
Chickens	771	669	703	792	< 1%	< 1%
Poultry meat and eggs, metric tons
Chicken meat	3,684	3,325	6,169	5,026	< 1%	< 1%
Chicken meat, canned	410	1,230	479	990	< 1%	< 1%
Turkey meat	273	266	1,325	1,049	< 1%	< 1%
Meat of pigeon, other birds	0	1	35	9	< 1%	< 1%
Foie gras	1	3	1	3	< 1%	< 1%

Source: United Nations FAO

What are the US imports of poultry or poultry products from Finland ?

Only one live avian, a pet bird, was imported from Finland during 2004 to date.  All live poultry and other bird species imported into the US (except from Canada) are required to have a USDA issued import permit, a health certificate issued by a government veterinarian in the country of origin, and be quarantined for 30 days in a USDA animal import quarantine facility.  This includes pet birds as well as commercial birds.  During the quarantine period, the birds are tested for various infectious pathogens.

The US imported no products of concern (poultry meat, eggs, feathers) from Finland in 2003 or through May 2004.  Neither Mexico nor Canada imported any live birds, poultry or products of concern from Finland in 2003 or through April 2004.

Source: World Trade Atlas, VS Import Database

What is the level of passenger traffic arriving in the United States from Finland ?

A total of 67,761 residents of Finland arrived on flights to the US during 2003.  As part of APHIS-PPQ’s agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring, 288 air passengers from Finland were sampled for items of agricultural interest in fiscal year 2003.  None of these passengers were found to be carrying poultry products.

Source: APHIS-PPQ Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Database, ITA Office of Travel and Tourism Industries

CEI’s plans for follow up:  CEI will continue to monitor the situation but has no plans at this time to issue additional reports.  If you would like additional information or want to comment on this worksheet, you may reply to this message, or contact Judy Akkina at (970) 494-7324 or Kathy Orloski at (970) 494-7221.