On Wednesday, Brazil's agriculture ministry and meat industry group ABPA announced that Japan had halted poultry imports from a state following an HPAI outbreak on a non-commercial farm.
The decision comes a day after Brazil's first domestic bird flu epidemic on a farm containing ducks, mallards, geese, and chickens in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo.
The lobby organization ABPA said Japan's suspension "is not in line with the guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOA)" because it does not import chicken from the state.
Later on Wednesday, Brazil's agriculture ministry questioned Japan's decision.
Saying the case's confirmation does not change Brazil's status before WHOA & the import ban "is not agreed to in the health protocol between both parties."
Brazil, the world's top chicken producer, has reported 50 cases in wild birds in seven states since May 15.
ABPA noted that industrial poultry production in Brazil has not seen the disease. According to ABPA, Japan was Brazil's third-largest poultry importer in 2022.