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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 14) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in various areas including the Haute-Garonne Department of France, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from Haute-Garonne Department with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong. Import bans imposed earlier on poultry meat and products from other affected areas in France are still in force.
About 9 800 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 335 000 poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from France from January to November last year.
"The CFS has contacted the French authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, January 14, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:20
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