Japan to lift ban on fresh chicken imports from Thailand

BANGKOK, December 21 (TNA) - Japan will resume its imports of fresh chicken from Thailand by the end of this year, the first time that Tokyo will reopen its market for fresh Thai poultry after the ban was imposed in 2004 due to bird flu outbreaks. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Yuko lLimlaemthong told journalists of the development on Friday (Dec 20), after his meeting in Bangkok with Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Shigekasu Sato. Yukol revealed that he was informed by the Japanese top envoy that Tokyo will make its official announcement on the revocation of the ban on fresh chicken imports from Thailand by the end of 2013. According to the caretaker deputy premier, Thailand’s control and prevention measures of avian influenza have already been recognised by Japan and there have been no reports of any bird flu outbreak in Thailand for four consecutive years. The caretaker deputy prime minister assured that Thailand's Department of Livestocks will control every production process, including quality and disease control, to be then reported in Thailand's official certificate on chicken health issued for 26 factories allowed to export the product to Japan. The caretaker deputy prime minister estimated that Thailand should initially re-export about 300,000 tonnes of fresh chicken to Japan in 2014. The caretaker deputy premier noted that Thailand, however, remains necessary to keep a close watch against bird flu virus, especially after Japan lifts its import ban on fresh Thai poultry, which takes nearly 10 years for its official decision and four yours for its thorough consideration. (TNA)