Russia bans Japanese pork imports due to AH1N1 flu

Russia has banned pork imports from three Japanese districts due to AH1N1 flu, the country's animal and plant health watchdog said Tuesday (May 26).

Russian animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement that it is banning the imports of live pigs, pork meat and pork-based products from Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga due to the detection of AH1N1 flu virus in Japan.

According to health officials, the number of confirmed AH1N1 infections in Japan has risen to 307, but there have been no fatalities and most cases have been mild.

Earlier this month, Moscow banned Spanish pork imports after it confirmed its first case of the virus.

Other countries such as the US, Britain and Canada have been subjected to similar measures, drawing criticism from the EU.

Russia reported its first two confirmed cases of AH1N1 flu last week - both were Russian nationals returning from the US and the Dominican Republic.