February 13, 2004

Japan Prepared To Resume Thai Chicken Imports

Japan could resume imports of heat -treated chicken products from Thailand, provided Thai processing plants adhere to Japanese hygiene standards, officials said Thursday.

Agriculture Vice Minister Mamoru Ishihara made the remarks after meeting with a visiting Thai delegation led by Ampon Kitti-ampon, director of the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodities and Food Standards.

Japan banned imports of all poultry and poultry products from Thailand - its biggest supplier - three weeks ago following the bird flu outbreak, which has killed at least five people in Thailand and forced authorities to cull more than 26 million birds.

The Thai delegation reported that progress is being made in containing the outbreak and asked for trade to be resumed as soon as possible, said a Japanese agriculture official, Yayoi Tsujiyama.

Japan is prepared to resume imports of chicken that is treated at more than 70 degrees Celsius and processed at plants that meet Japanese hygiene standards, Japanese officials said. After the two sides discuss those standards, Japanese inspectors will be sent to Thailand to certify their implementation, they said.

Health officials say heat kills the bird flu virus.

Before it announced an indefinite import ban on Jan. 22, Japan relied on Thailand for about a third of the chicken it consumes. Subsequent bans on imports from China and the U.S. have jacked up prices and forced Japanese restaurants to scramble to find new suppliers.

Tsujiyama said the ministry will hold a similar meeting with Chinese officials Friday.

Fourteen people have also died of bird flu in Vietnam.