Further delays seen in resumption of RP chicken exports to Japan

The country continues to face tremendous odds in its bid to persuade Japan to allow the resumption of processed chicken exports from the Philippines.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the local broiler industry jointly submitted last November all the required documents being asked by Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (MAFF) for the resumption of shipment of processed chicken to Japan. So far, no action has been taken by Japanese authorities.

"We have complied with all the conditions necessary for the country to continue chicken exports to Japan but we have gotten word that the proper authorities that should be reviewing the documents submitted will be very busy in the coming months in preparation for the state visit of US President (George) Bush to Japan this year," said BAI Director Davinio Catbagan.

Prior to this, MAFF representatives said they had yet to translate the submitted English text into the Japanese language.

One of the conditions set by the MAFF is for the local broiler industry to submit its bird flu control program that outlines among others, the prevention and treatment of the dreaded bird flu virus.

Industry sources said the MAFF is apparently reluctant to re-open its market to Philippine processed chicken exporters despite the completion of the required documents.

"We have stressed repeatedly that the Philippines remains bird-flu free but Japan would not acknowledge the clearance issued by the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL)," said a representative of on integrated poultry processing firm.

The AAHL is the regional reference laboratory for AI (avian influenza) of the Paris-based Office International des Epizooties or OIE which is a unit under the World Health Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

"It is rather ironic that Japan wouldn’t allow exporters to resume shipment (of processed chicken) when in fact, the Philippines, a bird-flu free country, continues to export rare exotic tropical birds to the likes of Germany and Singapore," said Catbagan.

Another industry official surmised that Japan could be hesitant to resume processed chicken trading with the Philippines since a number of its major trading houses have already picked up where they left off with their traditional Thailand suppliers that previously delivered to them before Thailand was struck by the bird-flu virus.

"What is new with the deal with the Thai suppliers, is that not only are they price-competitive, they have also gone beyond the exports of frozen or chilled processed chicken and expanded their value-added lines such as barbecue yakitori lines."

The Philippines has been expecting the MAFF to finally allow it to resume its shipment of processed or value-added chicken to Japan following a 90-day ban on July 21,2005, with reports of a suspected bird flu virus affecting a duck farm in Bulacan. Subsequent reports show the apprehension was unsubstantiated.