Denmark poultry meat import applications suspended
**************************************************

    The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's Centre for Food Safety announced today (May 19) that processing of applications for the importation of poultry meat from Denmark will be suspended with immediate effect.

     "The decision was taken following the confirmation of an outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 in a poultry farm in Denmark," a spokesman for the Centre said.

     "We are seeking further information from the relevant authorities concerning the case," he said.

     Hong Kong imported some 2,000 tonnes of poultry meat from Denmark in 2005.

Ends/Friday, May 19, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:37

NNNN

---