Primary Control Zones and Movement Permits

When an infection is detected on a farm the CFIA implements Primary Control Zones (PCZ’s) around the premise. The PCZ is used to determine the movement permissions and what is required to move product within, out of, and between zones.

This measure is critical in reducing the risk of spread to poultry on other farms in the zone.

To determine if you are within a zone, visit the CFIA’s Primary Control Zone page.

If you are wondering what type of permit and surveillance your movement may require, please see CFIA’s interactive tool to determine permit requirements which can be found here.

CFIA implements new approach in Fraser Valley

Over the winter of 2024/25 the CFIA piloted a change in primary control zones (PCZ) within the BC Fraser Valley, a simplified approach reflecting the higher density of farms in the productive agricultural region. The pilot was successful, so this modified approach was made permanent in the region for the 2025 fall wild bird migration.

Rather than having zones extend in a radius from infected premises, the CFIA set 11 predetermined geographical zones. A zone is declared a PCZ when avian influenza is detected at a poultry premise in the zone, or within 10 kms of a zone’s border.

Read more about the change on this CFIA website.

Current movement

When the 11 pre-determined Primary Control Zones were created for the Fraser Valley they were split into two categories based on poultry density and permitting requirements – Category 1 and Category 2. Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are Category 1 (essentially those in the Aldergove, Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack areas where there are more poultry farms), while zones 1, 2, 8, 9, and 11 are Category 2 (the areas encompassing Metro Vancouver west of the Fraser River, Surrey, Maple Ridge, and Pitt Meadows, which have a lower density of poultry operations).

The requirements for movement within and between the two types of zones are different in a few important ways:

• When shipping from a farm in a Category 1 zone to a plant in a Category 2 zone Specific Permits and DBS are required within 72 hours prior to movement.
• Shipments within Category 1 Infected Zones require Specific Permits. No testing is required.
• Shipments into Category 1 Infected Zones from either a Free Zone or a Category 2 Infected Zone require General Permits. No testing is required.
• Shipments into a Free Zone from any Infected Zone, Category 1 or 2, require Specific Permits and DBS within 72 hours prior to movement.

We have created a decision tree helping farmers determine their specific requirements based on their farm location and the location of facilities to which they are shipping birds or products. See a link to that below.