Under the auspices of the NAFTA Egg and Poultry Partnership (NEPP), the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) and Mexico’s Union Nacional de Avicultores has established a NEPP working group on avian influenza.  The working group will identify issues and projects on which the two industries can coordinate to help Mexico deal with its recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The working group is supported by the National Chicken Council as well as the American Egg Board, National Turkey Federation,  U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, United Egg Producers, the USAPEEC International Poultry Development Program, as well as the International Egg Commission and the International Poultry Council.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has internationally-recognized standards that identify strategies and protocols for controlling and eliminating avian influenza, and once fully implemented, will provide an effective path for handling the Mexican crisis.  The procedures include containment, management of poultry movement, zoning and compartmentalization, humane culling, and vaccination, when appropriate.  Mexico is incorporating the OIE strategies and the U.S. industry has expressed its support to help Mexico in its efforts.