The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 4) that in view of notifications from the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in the Wolsztyński District of Wielkopolskie and the Raciborski District of Śląskie in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from these areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 17,720 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 34.26 million poultry eggs from Poland last year, according to the Census and Statistics Department.

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

Ends/Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:20

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