March 10, 2004

Japan Reinstates Canada Poultry Ban

Japan reinstated a total ban on live birds, chicken and other poultry meat from Canada on Wednesday following the confirmation of a virulent strain of bird flu in British Columbia, Kyodo News reported.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries just lifted the ban on Canadian poultry imports last Friday, except for poultry imports from the western Canadian province, saying the bird flu virus detected in British Columbia was found to be only mildly toxic.

However, the ministry reimposed the total ban as the existence of a virulent type was confirmed, ministry officials said.

The ministry first introduced the ban on Feb. 20 immediately after the Canadian government confirmed the discovery of the H7 strain of avian influenza in British Columbia, the report said.