China's tough stance on epidemic containment has enabled it to resume exports of select poultry products to the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Japan, the United States and Britain. 

Stringent quarantine and control measures have allowed China to resume exports of some poultry products to the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Japan, the United States and Great Britain, according to China's State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

The Republic of Korea has so far agreed to import specific pathogen-free (SPF) eggs and cooked poultry meat that has been heated at 70 degrees Celsius for at least one minute.

Singapore has reopened its doors for canned and cooked poultry meat, while Japan is allowing down and feather products in addition to canned meat.

The US and Britain have also resumed imports of poultry feather products from China.

Since the first case of bird flu was reported in China in late January, the administration has taken a variety of steps to control the spread of bird epidemic and minimize economic loss.

For instance, a research institute affiliated to the administration developed a method to test for the bird flu virus in four hours, much shorter than the 21 days taken by the internationally accepted detection method recommended by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2004)