Philippines ban on Japanese poultry imports lifted
The Philippines has lifted a temporary ban on all live birds and poultry imported from Japan, saying risk of bird flu contamination was negligible.
Agriculture Department secretary Arthur Yap said that the lifting of the ban was based on a final report submitted by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
In the report it was stated: “90 days have elapsed without any evidence of highly pathogenic strains of bird flu virus in Japan since a stamping-out policy were instituted last January 13”.
The lifting of the ban covers all imports from Japan, being the second largest trading partner of the Philippines, of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen.
