SINGAPORE, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Singapore will lift the ban on poultry imports from Malaysia´s southern states of Johor and Malacca from Thursday.

    According to a statement by Singapore´s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) on Tuesday, the decision came following Singapore voiced its satisfaction with the measures taken by the neighboring country to keep the two southern states free of bird flu.

    The AVA has been working closely Malaysia´s Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) over the last four weeks on partial lifting of the ban on Malaysian poultry and eggs, the AVA said, adding that the AVA is satisfied that the measures to keep Johor and Malacca free of bird flu are in place.

    Singapore will resume the import of chickens, ducks and eggs from accredited farms in Johor and Malacca starting from Thursday,but the ban on individuals bringing poultry products into the island state is still in effect.

    As of August 18, Singapore suspended the import of all poultry and poultry products from Malaysia following bird flu virus was detected at a poultry farm in Kelantan near the Thai-Malaysia border.

    It is the first time that Singapore has banned the import of all poultry products from Malaysia.

    Malaysia is the biggest supplier of Singapore, of which two-thirds of eggs and half of poultry come from the neighboring country.

news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-09/28/content_2034136.htm