NEW DELHI: Japan has approved India as a poultry meat supply country without inspecting the plants in India.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has completed the evaluation of India's standards for export of poultry meat and meat products and has conveyed to the Union Government through the Embassy of India in Tokyo that Indian poultry met Japanese standards.

The Japanese Government will accept hygiene certificates issued by India in this regard.

"This is something that we have been pushing for the whole of last year," Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said while welcoming the decision of the Japanese Government.

He had taken up the matter with the Japanese authorities during his visit to Tokyo in April this year, said an official spokesperson.

So far, India has not exported any poultry meat and other products to Japan. The Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry had conveyed the health requirements for Indian poultry meat and its products on February 15, 2005. After that, the Japanese Health Ministry evaluated India's standards for export of poultry meat.

The Japanese have put the condition that if standards are not properly implemented, they will stop accepting the hygiene certificates.

Necessary action has accordingly been initiated by the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry for the commencement of poultry exports from India to Japan.

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