Judge refuses to allow more avian flu tests on ostriches at B.C. farm

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jun 23, 2025 3:55 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

Canada's Federal Court of Appeal is refusing to let the owners of a British Columbia ostrich workplace to behaviour further investigating of their flock for avian flu successful a bid to avert a cull ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The aforesaid ruling, which was issued connected Friday but lone published online connected Monday, grants a impermanent enactment of the cull until a ruling connected an entreaty that volition beryllium held nary aboriginal than the week of July 21.

It says Universal Ostrich Farms has satisfied each 3 tests required for a impermanent enactment connected the cull of astir 400 birds astatine the workplace successful Edgewood, B.C., that has go the absorption of protests and planetary attention.

The workplace had besides sought an bid permitting it to behaviour diagnostic tests connected the birds and to suspend immoderate directives from the nutrient inspection bureau prohibiting specified tests, but Judge Sylvie Roussel denied some requests without explanation.

WATCH | Protesters anticipation to prevention ostriches from cull order: 

Dozens of ostriches died astatine the workplace successful December and January amid an outbreak of avian flu, and the nutrient inspection bureau says each birds successful the flock indispensable beryllium culled nether its "stamping out" policy.

Roussel says the workplace would person faced irreparable harm if the enactment were not granted, and the equilibrium of convenience favours granting the pause. 

Supporters of the workplace person been camped astatine the spot for weeks to forestall the cull, portion U.S. authorities including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. person called for the birds to beryllium spared for their imaginable technological value.