"Since no case of bird flu has been detected over the past six months, we can say this country is free of the epidemic," spokesman of the ministry Abdullah Fahim told Xinhua.

Any Afghan can buy and eat chicken now, he added.

The breakout of the virus six months ago forced the Afghan government to ban the import and sale of chicken.

More than 20 bird flu cases were detected in domestic and wild birds in Afghanistan, but no case had been reported in human beings.