July 10, 2006

 

San Miguel resumes chicken exports to Japan

 

 

San Miguel Foods Inc, part of a Philippines' food conglomerate has resumed exporting chicken to Japan almost a year after the country banned Philippine poultry shipments.

 

San Miguel Foods started shipping an initial 10 tonnes a few weeks ago, according to the Poultry Export Board.

 

Ruben Pascual, chairman of the Poultry Export Board said he was pleased with the lifting on the one-year-old ban.

 

He said San Miguel aims to ship out about 1,000 tonnes of chicken to Japan for the rest of the year to test the market.

 

Pascual said the 1000 tonnes was just a preliminary figure, because of the immense show of interest from the Japanese importers, said Pascual.

 

He added that Philippine exporters are also busy negotiating with buyers and export activities are expected to resume soon.

 

San Miguel is also hoping to expand into markets such as Russia, Germany, South Africa and Indonesia.

 

Japan two months ago announced that it had lifted an indefinite ban on Philippine poultry products. The ban was lifted after the Bureau of Animal Industry assured the government it was ready to tackle bird flu if it occurs.

 

Despite repeated requests from the Philippines urging Japan to lift the ban, the latter said the ban would be in place unless the Philippines showed proof that it no cases of bird flu occurred in the country.

 

Japan currently obtains 60 percent of its yakitori (grilled chicken meat) requirements from Brazil and now allows the importation of cooked or boiled chickens from Thailand following a ban due to bird flu.

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