Thursday, March 16, 2006
Japan bans poultry imports from the Netherlands
On Thursday Japan ordered a ban on all poultry imports from the Netherlands. This ban was ordered because of bird flu in France and other European countries, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said.
The move came after the Dutch government informed Tokyo of its plans to vaccinate chickens to prevent the spread of the disease in the country. Japan prohibits the use of bird flu vaccines and imports of meat from vaccinated poultry.
In 2005, Japan imported 7,082 tons of processed egg products from the Netherlands but did not import any Dutch poultry meat. So far 20 countries have imposed a ban on all poultry imports from France and other European countries.