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)