March 27, 2006

Japan halts poultry imports from Chinese company

Japan has temporarily halted imports of poultry products from a company based in Shanghai after some products were found heated less than what was required for an anti-bird flu measure, its agricultural ministry said Friday.

All the poultry products from the company will be destroyed, the ministry said.

Quarantine officials at Hakata port in Fukuoka Prefecture found undercooked products in a random check of two out of 191 containers carrying a total of 1,528 tonnes of poultry for grilled chicken, the ministry said.

Japan banned poultry imports from China in January 2004 after the outbreak of bird flu but the ban was lifted 3 months later for heated poultry products.