The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 31) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in the Province of Pordenone in Italy, the CFS has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the province with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 3 300 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 250 000 poultry eggs from Italy last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Italian 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 31, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:04

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