Japan, Brunei, Vietnam Eye Philippine Chicken Imports - PHILIPPINES - Japan, Brunei and Vietnam are eyeing possible chicken imports from the Philippines following an outbreak of avian flu in 10 Asian countries, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo said Monday.

In a statement, Lorenzo said that "Japan, Brunei and Vietnam are now looking at the possibility of sourcing some of their chicken requirements from us."

"This is one of the reasons why the department, despite mounting pressures from many sectors, has been very careful in not allowing the unbridled entry of imported meat into the country no matter how cheap they may appear to be," he added.

The Philippines is one of the few South East Asian countries that have been spared thus far from avian flu, which has afflicted 10 Asian countries, namely Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Pakistan, China and Cambodia.

According to Lorenzo, the department is coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs to help facilitate chicken exports to Japan, Brunei and Vietnam.

"We're willing to help them on the diplomatic front, although it's up to the industry to identify the market," Lorenzo said.

Meanwhile, domestic prices of chicken continue to fall due to the avian flu scare even as health and agriculture officials insist the country remains free of the disease.

Farmgate prices of live chicken have further declined to 45 pesos ($1=PHP56.01) a kilogram from PHP57/kg less than a week ago and PHP68/kg one month ago, Gregorio San Diego, chairman of the United Broiler Raisers Association said.

Source: eFeedLink - 2nd Febuary 2004