February 27, 2006

 

Philippines urges Japan to allow chicken exports

 

 

The Philippines is urging Japan to re-open its poultry markets to Filipino poultry imports after it was confirmed that the country had no cases of bird flu.

 

Trade Secretary Peter Favila said exporters have requested for the lifting of the ban which they voluntarily sought on concerns over a possible bird flu case.

 

The case later turned out to be a false alarm after a study by the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) showed that local poultry products remain free from the bird flu virus.

 

The AAHL is the regional reference laboratory for avian influenza working for the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

 

Japan has requested for documents certifying that local poultry products are indeed free from the bird flu virus.

 

Favila said Japan is sending technical people to the Philippines to reach a consensus that will lift the ban on local poultry products.

 

The ban on chicken shipments to Japan has had a big impact on local producers. Over 90 percent of the Philippines chicken exports goes to Japan.

 

The government is optimistic the continued absence of bird flu cases in the country will mean stronger exports growth for poultry products.

 

Japan and the European Union have imposed an import ban on Thailand, Asia's largest exporter of poultry products.

 

Outbreaks of the disease in bird populations were also confirmed in other countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Pakistan and China.