The farm ministry said Friday it will authorize imports of U.S. chicken processed before Nov. 11, easing a ban imposed after the breakout of avian influenza in the United States.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said it will authorize imports of chicken meat that U.S. federal government agencies certify in writing were processed before Nov. 11.
The partial lifting of the ban was approved because it is believed the flu virus first hit U.S. farms on Nov. 12, the ministry said.
Even if the processing of U.S. chicken took place in other countries before importation into Japan, the government will allow meat to be brought into the country as long as U.S. documents certify processing occurred before Nov. 11, it said.