Agriculture Department secretary Arthur Yap told reporters that the lifting of the ban was based on a final report submitted by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The report showed that "90 days have elapsed without any evidence of highly pathogenic strains of bird flu virus in Japan since a stamping-out policy was instituted last Jan. 13".

The lifting of the ban covers all imports from Japan of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen, according to a memorandum on the issue between the two countries.

Source: XINHUA Online