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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 16) that in view of a notification from the European Commission about an outbreak of low-pathogenic H5 sub-type avian influenza on a poultry holding in Brescia Province, Lombardy Region, Italy, import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from this area has been banned with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.
A CFS spokesman said about 2 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 120 000 poultry eggs from Italy were imported into Hong Kong last year.
An import ban on the same items from Emilia-Romagna Province, Italy, has been in effect since August 17 this year and is still in force, he added.
"We have contacted the Italian authority over the matter and will closely monitor information issued by the European Commission on the avian influenza outbreak in Italy. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the developments of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:21
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