Import of poultry meat and products from Republic of Mari El in Russia suspended

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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 15) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Republic of Mari El in Russia, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Russia for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 30 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Russia in the first three months of this year.

"The CFS has contacted the Russian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Thursday, June 15, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:23

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