January 30, 2004

Japan May Allow Processed Chicken Imports From China, Thailand

Japan may allow imports of processed chicken products from China and Thailand, a press report said Thursday.

The Japanese government will send experts on fact-finding missions to China and Thailand if these countries request the partial easing of the ban, the Jiji Press news agency reported quoting farm ministry officials.

The ministry is expected to approve the resumption of processed chicken imports from China and Thailand on such conditions as that the products are treated by high temperatures and processed at facilities authorised by Tokyo, the report said.

No official was immediately available at the ministry to confirm the report.

China and Thailand supply almost all of the processed poultry products used in Japan in such popular dishes as "yakitori," or skewered grilled chicken, and fried chicken.

The ban on shipments from China and Thailand has been hitting the Japanese food industry hard.

Tokyo has banned poultry from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and some parts of the United States, where bird flu outbreaks have been reported.