Certified Indian poultry products make it to Japan

Japan has decided to import Indian poultry products that are certified by the commerce ministry's quality certification body for exports "" government body said here today.

Japan's ministry of health, labour and welfare, after evaluating the country's standards for export of poultry meat, has decided to import poultry products from the country. The Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) certification issued by the export inspection agencies meet Japanese standards, an official release said.

In the wake of the impending avian flu scare affecting the poultry industry in most parts of the world Indian poultry product is seen as a safe option following the recognition of EIC standards by Japan, it said.

The approval by Japan follows a series of meetings between Indian and Japanese officials where a number of technical issues were sorted out, the release said.

The products certified meet the most stringent requirements for ante-mortem and post-mortem, heavy metal, pesticide residues, antibiotic residues and microbiological standards, it said.

The EIC will now issue health certificates for poultry meat and products that have been processed, handled, slaughtered, dressed, de-feathered, eviscerated, divided and chopped, stored, transported under hygienic conditions and inspected (ante-mortem and post-mortem) in accordance with the conditions laid down in its rules, the release added.