The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 7) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in the State of Thuringia and the State of Saxony in Germany, the CFS has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above areas with immediate effect.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 10 500 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 2 million poultry eggs from Germany last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the German authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:56

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