British market reopens to vaccinated French ducks
The United Kingdom has officially announced the resumption of imports of duck meat from France, including products derived from ducks vaccinated against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), effective 22 May 2025.
The British market had been closed to these exports since March 2024, following the implementation of France's mandatory HPAI vaccination program for ducks in October 2023. At that time, UK authorities raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of France’s post-vaccination surveillance and monitoring protocols.
In response, the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) of the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, in coordination with FranceAgriMer, the French Embassy in London, and representatives of the duck industry, undertook a comprehensive diplomatic and technical effort to address the UK’s concerns.
A pivotal step in this process was the audit conducted by the UK Office for the Assurance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Trade (UK SPS Office), which took place in France from 2 to 6 December 2024. The audit evaluated both passive and active surveillance components of the vaccination strategy, with particular attention to field-level implementation.
The auditors concluded that the French vaccination program is robust and well-executed, with a strong surveillance system in place. The successful outcome of this audit played a decisive role in the UK's decision to lift its embargo.
This development marks a significant achievement in health diplomacy and underscores the importance of maintaining the rigor of France’s vaccination and monitoring efforts in future campaigns. Sustained confidence in the integrity of this program will be essential for encouraging other third countries to follow suit in lifting their own trade restrictions on French poultry and poultry products.
