Japan will soon lift avian influenza-related restrictions on poultry trade imposed on two Brazilian states after cases were detected in backyard animals, Reuters reported, citing Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro who spoke in a televised interview on Wednesday.

Japan halted purchases of poultry from the states of Santa Catarina this week and Espirito Santo last month after avian influenza cases were confirmed at non-commercial farms there.

"I want to believe that as soon as possible the market will reopen," Favaro said as he prepares to lead a mission to Japan, where he will meet with local authorities.

He stressed Brazil's high sanitary standards, saying it is one of only four countries in the world that are free of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases on commercial farms.

Under guidelines from the World Organization for Animal Health, regional or national trade bans would be applicable only if the highly pathogenic virus reaches a commercial farm, which authorities say has not yet happened in Brazil.