The Hong Kong Center for Food Safety Tuesday announced that the
processing of applications for importing poultry and poultry
products from Miyazaki and Okayama Prefectures of Japan would
resume with immediate effect.
The center suspended processing of applications following
confirmation of an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian
influenza H5N1 on a poultry farm in Miyazaki in January. Another
outbreak was confirmed on a poultry farm in Okayama in
February.
The center lifted the restrictions for Japan (except Miyazaki
and Okayama) in April while continuing to monitor the situation in
Miyazaki and Okayama.
"In view of the control measures taken by Japan and the fact
that there are no other cases of avian influenza reported in the
two prefectures, we decide to resume processing of applications," a
center spokesman said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2007)