The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 17) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Zgorzelecki and Cieszynski Districts of Poland, Province of Mantua of Italy and District of Mid Suffolk, Suffolk County, the UK, the CFS has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 20 500 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 4.8 million poultry eggs from Poland, about 3 300 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 250 000 poultry eggs from Italy, and about 16 000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat and 700 000 poultry eggs from the UK last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Polish, Italian and UK authorities over the issues 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/Friday, February 17, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:45

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