Ukraine Poultry Import Suspension Lifted
Overview
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries confirmed that poultry in Ukraine is free from avian influenza and lifted the temporary suspension of imports of poultry meat and related products from Ukraine, effective October 16, 2026. The suspension had been in place since October 2021 following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The decision to lift it was based on information about disease prevention measures and other matters provided by Ukraine’s veterinary authority. The suspension was intended to prevent live poultry raised in Japan from becoming infected with the virus, not to protect food hygiene.
Key points
- The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries confirmed that poultry in Ukraine is free from avian influenza and lifted the temporary import suspension.
- The import suspension had been in place since October 2021.
- No bilateral import conditions have been established for live poultry, so it has not been eligible for import to date.
Overview
Following confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza at poultry facilities in Ukraine, imports of poultry meat and related products from Ukraine had been temporarily suspended since October 2021.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries confirmed that poultry in Ukraine is free from avian influenza and lifted the temporary import suspension effective October 16, 2026.
Impact
The temporary suspension of imports of poultry meat and related products from Ukraine has been lifted.
Import suspensions from countries or regions where outbreaks occur are intended to prevent live poultry raised in Japan from becoming infected with the virus, not to protect food hygiene.
Details
To determine whether Ukraine was free from avian influenza, the Ministry reviewed information on disease prevention measures and other matters provided to Japan by Ukraine’s veterinary authority.
No bilateral import conditions have been established for live poultry, so it has not been eligible for import from Ukraine to date.
The import record table lists poultry meat imports as “-” in 2019 and 2020, and 16 tonnes in 2021. The figures in parentheses for Japan’s total imports were 1,092,944 tonnes, 1,021,239 tonnes, and 1,093,288 tonnes, respectively. Poultry egg imports were “-” in all three years, while Japan’s total imports were 25,843 tonnes, 23,218 tonnes, and 28,539 tonnes, respectively.