Information on confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Canada can be found on the CFIA website.
Primary Control Zones
Maps and geographical boundaries for Primary Control Zones (PCZs) are available on the CFIA website.
Permits
Permits are required to move in, out or through PCZs for feeds requiring permissions.
The general permits may serve as a source of movement information should someone become implicated in a disease investigation and should be maintained for such purposes. If another tracking system is in place to capture the details of relevant movements, a single permit can be used to capture movements to and from multiple origins and destinations, of multiple weights, etc. If no other system is in place to track movements, a unique general permit is required for each unique movement. An appendix listing multiple destinations is also an acceptable approach.
One general permit may be used by a facility as long as there is a tracking sheet for all the movements associated with that permit which include the amount of feed delivered and the address of each delivery location.
Truck drivers must keep a copy of the permit with them at all times when en route.
Permit change required by October 14
A new General Permit will be available on the CFIA website as of October 11. The new permit is necessary to provide some positive changes to permitting for live bird movements and chick placement within Primary Control Zones (PCZs) and the classification of commercial versus non-commercial poultry farms.
ANAC was able to resolve all concerns identified for the feed industry with the new General Permit. For the movement of feed, these new permits will be very similar compared to the original permits, although there are a few changes.
Special instructions for the new General Permit
For detailed instructions, watch the 7-minute video explaining how to complete the new General Permit for feed movements.
A few points are highlighted below:
- You must replace your current permits with new General Permits by Friday, October 14. Until then, you can use your current General Permits.
- A permit can remain valid for up to 3 months. Once your permit expires, you must complete a new permit if you still require one (i.e. you are still moving in, out or through a PCZ).
- One General Permit may still be used for all feed movements from one facility as long as there is a tracking system in place to record all required information (such as delivery dates and destinations). This tracking information must be readily available if requested by the CFIA.
- The permit must be submitted to the CFIA, but once submitted it may be used right away.
Note: These instructions are for the feed component only. Movement of other commodities might have different requirements.
The general permit can be downloaded from the CFIA website (Note: if you get an Adobe error, you may need to save the file to your desktop to be able to access it).
The CFIA Movement Control call in line is also available at 519-953-6658, from 8am to 6pm. This line should only be used for urgent inquiries and for planned movements which will require permits. Less urgent inquiries can be sent to cfia.ontmovementlicandpermits-deplacementlicenceetpermis.acia@inspection.gc.ca.
Do I need a permit?
The CFIA has published details on what type of permits are needed for Avian Influenza movement control permissions, including feed.
ANAC provided the CFIA with the following typical scenarios for feed movement and we have received the following guidance from them:
Finished product ready to be consumed by livestock – facility WITHIN the zone
Moving out of the zone to deliver poultry feed to poultry farms outside the zone | Permit Required |
Delivering poultry feed to poultry farm in the zone | Permit Required |
Delivering livestock feed to non-poultry outside the zone | NO permit required if no poultry on site |
Delivering livestock feed to non-poultry inside the zone | NO permit required if no poultry on site |
Finished product ready to be consumed by livestock – facility OUTSIDE the zone
Delivering poultry feed from outside the zone to poultry farm in the zone | Permit Required |
Passing through the zone (no stops) delivering poultry feed to poultry farm outside the zone | Permit Required |
Delivering livestock feed to non-poultry inside the zone | NO permit required if no poultry on site |
Passing through the zone (no stops) delivering livestock feed to non-poultry outside the zone | NO permit required if no poultry on site |
Frequently asked questions
Changes to the HPAI response
For information on all changes to the HPAI response plan, view the CFIA’s presentation by clicking the button below.
Biosecurity
The feed industry must be vigilant with biosecurity measures and put in place heightened controls in and around infected premises. Download ANAC’s National Biosecurity Guide for the Livestock and Poultry Feed Sector to obtain details on heightened biosecurity in the event of a disease outbreak.
HPAI Awareness

The CFIA has developed a poster to help educate bird owners on HPAI. This poster is ideal to put up at retail facilities to raise awareness amongst owners of backyard flocks and pet birds.