The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 21) that in view of a notification from the Korean authorities about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza in Jeollanam-do Province and Chungcheongbuk-do Province of Korea, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the areas concerned with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 2 100 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 1.54 million poultry eggs from Korea in the first nine months of this year.

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

Ends/Monday, November 21, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:40

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