Foie Gras Supply Squeezed At Source

[Mulboyne]

[floatl][/floatl]Mainichi: Japan may face foie gras shortage due to bird flu
The Japanese government has banned imports of Hungarian poultry and poultry products, including foie gras, after the discovery of avian influenza in Hungary, the Agriculture, the Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said Tuesday. In the wake of the ban, Japan may suffer a shortage of foie gras as French poultry products are also banned...In 2005, Japan imported 331 tons of foie gras and other poultry products from Hungary and 377 tons from France, accounting for more than 90 percent of total imports for the year.

[Mulboyne]

Panic over.

Japan lifted its ban on French poultry imports Monday, including meat and internal organs, which had been in place since late February over bird flu, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry officials said. With the termination of the embargo, poultry products, including foie gras, can be brought into Japan from France, a major producer of geese and duck livers, the officials said. In 2005, Japan imported 1,510 tons of duck and other poultry meat and 377 tons of internal organs, including foie gras, from France, according to the ministry.