July 26, 2007

Japan resumes import of South Korean chicken
 

Japan has resumed importing South Korean chicken after halting quarantine inspections, resulting from the bird flu outbreak that hit the country late last year, the government said Thursday (Jul 26), Yonhap news agency reported.

The measure went into effect Wednesday, and comes after Seoul notified Tokyo that it has been classified as a bird flu risk-free country by the world animal health agency on Jun 18, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said.

"South Korean exporters can now export such goods as chicken meat, eggs and live chicks to Japan," said Kim Chang-seob, chief veterinary officer at the ministry. Seoul has been able to export heat-processed and canned chicken soup to Japan since Dec 4.

The ministry, meanwhile, said exports to Hong Kong should resume immediately since authorities there agreed to allow South Korean chickens into the special administrative zone if they have been properly documented.