Japan lifts restrictions on Ukrainian poultry and egg exports

Japan lifted the ban on poultry and egg exports from Ukraine imposed last year due to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

"On August 2, Japan lifted the ban on poultry and egg exports from Ukraine which was imposed in December last year due to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Ukraine," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

It is noted that the relevant decision was made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan following rounds of talks with diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

The Ministry added that the Ukrainian side had informed the Japanese partners in detail about measures to combat outbreaks of bird flu.

"We are not only creating new export opportunities for Ukrainian companies but also restoring access to foreign markets which were closed for one reason or another. Such closure decisions are usually made quickly, and long-term efforts are needed to persuade partners to reopen a market. I am glad that we managed to convince the Japanese partners of the safety of Ukrainian products, and Ukrainian companies can now export their products again," the Foreign Ministry informed, citing a statement by Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection Vladyslava Mahaletska added that the Service and the Ministry did a lot of work to lift restrictions and resume exports of Ukrainian poultry products. She recalled that restrictions had previously been lifted by Jordan, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries.

In March, Ukraine resumed poultry meat exports to the European Union, suspended in the winter due to an outbreak of bird flu.

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