February 9, 2004

Japan Bans Import of US Chicken Over Bird Flu Fears

The Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry temporarily banned imports of US chickens, other types of poultry and their processed food following the outbreak of bird flu in the United States late last week, officials said.

Japan imports about 50,000 tons of chicken from the United States a year, accounting for about 10 percent of Japan's chicken imports. The ministry earlier barred imports of Thai and Chinese chickens because of bird flu outbreaks in these countries.

Imports from the three countries - which make up 68 percent of Japan's total chicken imports and 20 percent of its domestic consumption - have ceased as a result of the latest decision by the ministry.

However, if the type of the bird flu virus found in the United States proves unlikely to affect human beings, the ministry will consider lifting or relaxing the ban, ministry officials said.

A chicken was found infected with bird flu virus in the northeastern state of Delaware on Friday, prompting local authorities to kill about 12,000 birds at local poultry farms, according to the ministry and Associated Press reports.

The United States becomes the 12th country or area where bird flu virus has been found this winter, and the first country outside Asia. The type of virus found in Delaware is H7, different from H5N1 that rages in Asia.

In March and April last year, less risky bird flu viruses were found in the northeastern states of Connecticut and Rhode Island, respectively, forcing the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry to totally ban imports of American chickens.

However, the ban was subsequently eased to allow imports from all the states other than Connecticut and Rhode Island.