China has lifted a ban on poultry from Virginia that has been in place for seven years, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced. The ban was implemented in 2007 after a single case of avian influenza was reported in a Virginia turkey flock.
McAuliffe announced the removal of China’s ban on Virginia poultry during a luncheon on May 5, the Virginian-Pilot reported. China imposed bans on poultry from other states at the time, but it took longer for the Virginia ban to be lifted.
“For whatever reason, for seven years we could not remove it,” said McAuliffe, who had not yet been elected governor when the ban was enacted.
McAuliffe said the end of the Chinese ban on Virginia poultry could mean between $20 million and $25 million in annual sales for poultry farmers in Virginia.
