December 9, 2023

Japan lifts poultry import restrictions from Argentina

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has officially removed all restrictions on poultry imports from Argentina that were implemented in February this year due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the South American nation, MercoPress reported.

This decision comes after the Japanese authorities received and assessed information regarding Argentina's effective control measures against avian influenza. Japan's suspension of poultry imports earlier this year was a preventive measure aimed at avoiding the infection of poultry in Japan and was unrelated to any concerns about the safety of Argentine poultry products.

Even before the February suspension, Japan had not permitted the import of live poultry from Argentina, lacking bilateral import conditions for such products.

The recent lifting of restrictions signifies Japan's confidence in Argentina's efforts to control and eliminate avian influenza, marking the reopening of a significant market for Argentine poultry exports. Japanese authorities said that this decision is a result of Argentina's successful actions to combat avian influenza.

Argentina's National Service of Health and Agrifood Quality (Senasa) added a specific condition for poultry products exported to Japan, stating that the meat and eggs must have been produced after December 5, 2023.

The restoration of Argentina's HPAI-free status on August 7, achieved through sanitary measures implemented by Senasa and other national and local agencies, played a pivotal role in reopening foreign markets.

-      MercoPress