The Beijing quarantine department Wednesday completed quarantine of 220 tons of processed chicken, which will be the first batch of chicken products exported to Japan since China fought off bird flu successfully.

The chicken products are from Beijing Dafa Zhengda Company Limited and have passed quarantine standards, said Chen Shisong, a senior official with Beijing Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine.

Japan is China's largest poultry export market. China invited Japanese food experts to inspect 35 recommended poultry processing companies after it fought off bird flu.

The experts concluded on April 7 that the 35 companies were eligible to export poultry to Japan after studying the processing procedures, fodder ingredients and content of chemical residues.

"After Japan resumed poultry import from China, our company has received 1,500 tons of orders worth US$4.5 million and the chicken could be delivered within one month," said She Feng, general manager of Beijing Huadu Company Limited, one of the 35 companies.

Beijing will step up quarantine on poultry products to guard against any food safety problem, according to the Beijing Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2004)