Japan has eased its ban on imports of US poultry, allowing poultry from all but six US states after becoming satisfied that bird flu outbreaks in certain areas had not spread to other states.


Japan imposed in February a temporary ban on imports of poultry from across the US after several US outbreaks of avian influenza were detected. The strain of bird flu detected in the US was not believed to be harmful to humans, unlike the strain that affected parts of Asia earlier this year killing more than 20 people in Thailand and Vietnam.


Now Japan’s agriculture ministry has said it will allow poultry from all US states except Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Texas, reported the Associated Press.