China Bans Cambodian, Thai Chicken

BEIJING - Jan 25/04 - SNS -- China has banned chicken imports from both Thailand and Cambodia because of avian influenza (AI) outbreaks in those countries. It had already banned imports from Vietnam, Japan and South Korea because of the disease.

Japan and the European Union had earlier banned imports of Thai chicken; as had Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Bangladesh and South Korea.

Reports from the official Xinhua news agency say Ministry Of Agriculture And Quarantine authorities made the decision just two days after outbreaks of the disease were confirmed in Thailand and Cambodia.

The ban affects products which are enroute to China as well as new purchases. Shipments of live poultry and poultry products already at Chinese ports need to be returned or destroyed, say ministry officials, whether the product came to China directly or indirectly.

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