Although there has been an outbreak of equine influenza in Japan, the import of horses to North America, Europe, and South Korea has not been banned. Hong Kong continues to allowed imports of horses participating in international races, but has prohibited the import of all other horses from Japan. Singapore has lifted this ban in August 2008 and Hong Kong in January 2009. Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand continue to ban the import of Japanese horses, but the Japanese government is negotiating with them to allow such imports to be resumed.