June 5, 2007

Philippines temporarily lifts ban on Japanese poultry imports

The Philippines has temporarily lifted a ban on all live bird and poultry imports from Japan, saying risk of avian influenza (bird flu) contamination was already "negligible", based on the final report submitted by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The report said that no bird flu cases have occurred within 90 days since a stamping-out policy was instituted last January 13.

The lifting of the ban covers all imports from Japan of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen.

The Philippines, along with Singapore and Brunei are the countries in Southeast Asia that have no reported cases of bird flu.

Japan is the second largest trading partner of the Philippines. The two governments have been trying to finalize an overall, bilateral free trade pact within this year.