Philippines bans poultry imports from Japan due to bird flu outbreak

MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines’ farm ministry said on Thursday it has temporarily banned poultry imports from Japan due to an outbreak of avian influenza.

Agriculture minister, Francisco Tiu Laurel, in a statement said the import ban was necessary to protect the local poultry population from exposure to the H5N1 avian influenza strain.

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores; Editing by Martin Petty)