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With the confirmation of avian influenza cases in Indonesia and Laos, the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau announced today (January 29) that the Government had temporarily suspended the importation of live birds and poultry meat from Indonesia and Laos.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department earlier suspended the processing of applications for importing live birds and poultry meat from these two countries pending more information about the suspected outbreaks there.

Ends/Thursday, January 29, 2004

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