The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 21) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Hungary and Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     ​The relevant areas are as follows:

Hungary
(1) Hajdú-Bihar County

Poland
Kujawsko-pomorskie Region
(2) Lipnowski District

Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region
(3) Piski District
(4) Iławski District

Lubelskie Region
(5) Łęczyński District

Mazowieckie Region
(6) Gostyniński District

Łódzkie Region
(7) Sieradzki District

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong currently has an established protocol with Hungary for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 250 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Hungary, and about 2 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 15.4 million poultry eggs from Poland in the first nine months of this year. 

     ​"The CFS has contacted the Hungarian and Polish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:25

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