Japanese and Chinese officials have begun talks on resuming
imports of processed poultry products from China. Japan has banned
such imports since the bird flu broke out across Asia.
Discussions are to be limited to the resumption of imports of
poultry products that have been treated with heat to ensure that
the flu virus has been destroyed.
It has also been reported Japan and Thailand have agreed to lift
the ban on the import of processed poultry products from Thailand.
So far, the agreement is restricted to products that have been
treated with heat. Thailand is the top and China the third supplier
of poultry products to Japan.
(CCTV February 15, 2004)