MANILA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government on Thursday lifted a temporary ban on imports of fowls and poultry products from Italy as the risks of bird flu waned in the European country, local media reported.

    Local television network ABS-CBN News said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap ordered the lifting of the ban based on Bureau of Animal Industry's evaluation that the risk of contamination from Italian poultry products is negligible.

    The Philippines, where chicken is rated No. 1 favorite food, is one of only three bird flu-free countries in Southeast Asia. The two others are Brunei and Singapore.

    The Philippine government earlier had lifted import bans of birds, poultry and its products from South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Poland.