The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 24) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of H5 avian influenza in Miyagi Prefecture and Chiba Prefecture in Japan, the CFS has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the two prefectures with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 7 400 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 49 million poultry eggs from Japan last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Japanese 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/Friday, March 24, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:00

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