January 13, 2004

Taiwan Ban Japanese Poultry

Taiwan has imposed a ban on Japanese chickens and its by-products following the outbreak of bird flu in Japan.

Officials from the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said that the ban, which took immediate effect, was imposed as a precaution against the transfer of avian flu from Japan.

The bureau made the decision after being informed of an outbreak of avian flu at a chicken farm located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, southern Japan, where some 6,000 hens have already been slaughtered, they added.

The COA is also establishing a task force for the prevention and control of avian flu, which also affects Hong Kong, mainland China and South Korea, the officials noted.

Migratory wild birds will also be subject to an anti-avian flu monitoring system, they said.