The Guam Department of Agriculture announced on May 6, that the importation of day-old chicks from Hawaii is now allowed under strict biosecurity measures. Citing lower risk of avian influenza from these birds.
The broader ban on live adult poultry from Hawaii and all live birds from the mainland United States remains in effect. However, Guam continues to permit the import of hatching eggs from the mainland under enhanced safety protocols.
“Scientific evidence indicates that day-old chicks, particularly those sourced from certified disease-free hatcheries under the National Poultry Improvement Plan, present a much lower risk for transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) compared to older birds,” DOAG stated in the release. “These chicks are typically hatched in sanitized, controlled environments, minimizing the chance of viral contamination.”
DOAG explained that Hawaii is less vulnerable to exposure from migratory birds and has not reported any new avian influenza cases since November 2024. “Given these factors, the Guam Department of Agriculture has determined that allowing day-old chick imports from Hawaii under strict conditions can safely support Guam’s poultry industry while maintaining strong protections against HPAI.”
The risk of HPAI remains significantly higher on the mainland, where outbreaks have been reported along all four major migratory bird flyways — the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific. As such, DOAG emphasized that “importation of live birds from the continental United States presents an unacceptably high risk to Guam’s poultry and bird populations and will remain prohibited until further notice.”
The department also reaffirmed that hatching egg imports from the mainland will continue. These eggs pose less risk because “the virus does not pass from hen to embryo inside the egg,” and all shipments must comply with inspection and sanitation requirements.
To import day-old chicks from Hawaii, the following conditions must be met:
- Shipments must include inspection certification from the flock of origin, signed by a state inspector.
- Chicks must come from a National Poultry Improvement Plan certified hatchery.
- All shipments will be inspected upon arrival.
DOAG stated it will continue monitoring avian influenza trends and will update import rules as needed.
Residents are urged to report any unusual poultry deaths, especially if five or more birds are found dead. Reports can be made to the Animal Health Division at (671) 300-7966 or via email to Dr. Mariana Turner at [email protected]. mbj