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In response to outbreaks of H5N2 avian influenza in Penghu and Chiayi counties announced by the relevant Taiwan authority, a spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (November 23) that Hong Kong would suspend import of poultry eggs from these two counties with immediate effect.
The spokesman said, Hong Kong did not import any live poultry or poultry meat from Taiwan, but there was a small quantity of poultry eggs imported from Taiwan. According to records, during the first three quarters of this year about 7 700 000 poultry eggs have been imported into Hong Kong from Taiwan.
"We will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on the avian influenza outbreak and the latest situation in Taiwan, and will maintain close contacts with major local egg importers, distributors and supermarkets," the spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, November 23, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:54
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