The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 23) that in view of a notification from the United States (US) authorities about an outbreak of low-pathogenic H7 avian influenza in Cullman County, State of Alabama in the US, the CFS has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 300 000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat and 526 million poultry eggs from the US last year.

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

Ends/Thursday, March 23, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:50

NNNN