February 24, 2004

Japan To Keep Ban On US Poultry

Japan has decided to keep its ban on U.S. poultry imports following the discovery of highly pathogenic bird flu strain in Texas, farm minister Yoshiyuki Kamei said Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Japan imposed the ban on all poultry imports from the U.S. following confirmation of chickens infected with bird flu in Delaware.

But it later said the ban may be eased if the virus proves to be less virulent than the type afflicting Asia. Kamei's latest comment virtually reverses such a stance.