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A spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (February 20) the Government would temporarily cease processing of applications for the importation of poultry meat from the British Columbia of Canada as a precautionary measure to protect public health.
The announcement follows the confirmation of a case of H7 avian influenza on a chicken farm in British Columbia.
"We shall seek further information from Canada on the details of the outbreak before we consider whether or not additional precautionary measures should be taken to protect public health. We will also make reference to the guidelines and recommendations of the World Health Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)," the spokesman said.
"Frozen and chilled poultry meat from Canada accounts for about one per cent of total imports in Hong Kong," the spokesman added.
The Government has already suspended the processing of applications for the importation of all live birds into Hong Kong since January 30, 2004.
Ends/Friday, February 20, 2004
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