Japan Halts Brazilian Chicken Imports Amid Bird Flu Concerns

Japan has suspended poultry imports from Montenegro and Rio Grande do Sul, following a bird flu outbreak, an agriculture ministry official announced on Monday. The ban, effective since Friday, comes after Brazil, the leading global chicken exporter, reported its first poultry farm bird flu occurrence. This development has prompted China to enact a country-wide trade ban, with other major consumers imposing state-wide restrictions. Japan significantly depends on Brazilian chicken imports, and this outbreak could have repercussions for Japan’s meat market, already experiencing price hikes. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, Japan’s chicken imports from Brazil totaled about 429,000…