Many Asian markets ban imports of American poultry

South Korea has banned poultry imports from the US, while Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong have only banned imports from areas affected by the flu.

US Department of Agriculture staff are taking samples to test for bird flu on eggs. Photo: Reuters

The move came after the US discovered its first case of A/H7 flu in poultry at a farm in Tennessee, according to Reuters.

South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture said it has banned all poultry and egg imports from the United States. Japan and Taiwan have also banned poultry from Tennessee, while Hong Kong has banned imports from Tennessee County farms, according to James Summer, president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council.

The bans will affect major U.S. poultry companies such as Tyson Foods Inc. and Pilgrim's Pride, which export poultry. The Tennessee farm infected with the bird flu virus had contracted to sell poultry to Tyson Foods Inc.

The ban will take effect on March 6 and will apply to live poultry as well as eggs, but will not include heat-treated poultry meat and egg products from the United States, according to the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture.

South Korea is importing eggs from the United States after bird flu caused a sharp drop in domestic supplies. This year, the country has imported more than 1,000 tons of eggs from the United States, accounting for more than 98% of its total egg imports.

Mr. Summer expressed disappointment at the ban by South Korea. However, he said it was good that the country continued to import processed poultry products because South Korea still needed eggs.

South Korea resumed importing poultry products from the United States in June 2016 after lifting the ban earlier this year due to bird flu cases detected in the United States.

According to TNO