Some countries and regions have agreed to resume the import of some poultry and related products from China, according to a notice released by China's State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
The Republic of Korea has consented to import Special Pathogen Free (SPF) eggs and cooked poultry meat that have received over 70 Celsius degree treatment for at least one minute. Singapore accepts canned poultry meat and cooked poultry products.
Meanwhile, Japan allows imports of feather products, canned and bottled poultry products, and cooked poultry meat in disinfected packing. Hong Kong takes cooked poultry meat and fresh eggs from mainland areas other than the affected ones declared by the Ministry of Agriculture. Macao permits the import of fresh eggs from non-affected areas on the mainland.
However, as of February 5, as many as 41 nations, including Japan, the Republic of Korea and the nations in the Europe Union announced complete or partial bans on Chinese poultry products, following the outbreak of bird flu in China.
The notice said that the administration still prohibits the export of certain poultry and relevant products, including domestic fowls, wild fowls, poultry breeding eggs, poultry sperm and flesh, other related unprocessed products and products processed to below the safety standard.
Other products that have received over 70 Celsius degree treatment of over one minute, such as cooked meat, bone powder, preserved eggs, salted eggs and eiderdown clothing are eligible for export, unless the destination countries have particular requirements.
The notice added that the administration will continue negotiations with relevant nations and regions in the hope of resuming normal foreign trade in poultry and related products as soon as possible.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2004)
