The Centre for Food Safety announced that processing of applications for importing poultry meat and products, including eggs, from Japan would resume immediately. But those from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba Prefectures are excluded.

Following confirmation earlier of an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 in the city of Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, the CFS suspended the processing of applications for such imports on January 24.

"In view of the control measures taken by the country during the outbreak of avian flu in the city of Miyazaki, and the fact that there are no other reported cases of avian influenza, we decide to resume processing applications," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"However, the prohibition, imposed after the Fukushima nuclear plant incident, by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene since March 24 on the import of some specified food including poultry and poultry eggs produced in Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba Prefectures, remains effective," the spokesman said.