Japan urged to revoke ban on Indian poultry products

Japan had granted access to Indian poultry products in the second half of 2005, but had imposed a ban later with the spread of the avian flu.

Officials of the Agricultural and Processed Foods Products' Export Development Authority (Apeda) said that the Department of Animal Husbandry, has recently written to the Japanese Government for resuming poultry imports.

"We are hopeful of re-entering the Japanese market soon," said Mr K S Money, Chairman, Apeda.

In related news, a vaccine to prevent avian flu developed by a research institute in India could be available for as little as 35 paise (less than one cent) per dose.

Developed by the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in this central Indian city, it is the first vaccine against the spread of avian flu in the country.