********************************************************
In view of a confirmed H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Hubei Province, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau (HWFB) today (November 12) announced that the Government had suspended the processing of applications for the importation of poultry and poultry meat from Hubei Province with immediate effect.
"The HWFB received notification from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Mainland last night, of an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak among poultry in Jingshan county in Hubei Province,"the spokesman said.
The spokesmen said there were no imports of poultry meat and live birds from Hubei Province but should there be any such applications, they would not be processed for the time being to ensure food safety.
"We will monitor the development of the situation in the coming weeks," the spokesman said.
Ends/Saturday, November 12, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:07
NNNN
