Japan may resume imports of Ukrainian poultry meat and eggs

Ukraine has moved closer to resuming exports of poultry products to Japan. Last week, representatives of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted an online audit of Ukraine’s state control system and production facilities accredited to supply the Japanese market.

The audit is one of the key stages in the years-long process of lifting restrictions on imports of Ukrainian poultry products, according to Ukraine’s State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection. If the audit results are positive, the Japanese authorities will be able to proceed with lifting the existing restrictions.

Ukraine previously had access to the Japanese market: exports of poultry meat and poultry products were authorized in 2020, followed by table eggs in 2021. However, later in 2021, Japan suspended certification of Ukrainian products following an outbreak of avian influenza among wild birds.

A successful audit could therefore allow Ukraine to resume shipments of poultry meat, processed poultry products and table eggs to Japan after a roughly five-year break.

The Ukrainian food safety authority noted that Japan maintains stringent requirements for product safety and state control systems. Successfully completing the audit would therefore not only pave the way for renewed exports but also confirm Ukrainian producers’ ability to meet the requirements of one of the most demanding import markets.

Tags: Ukraine, imports, poultry meat, Japan, chicken eggs