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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 19) that, in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the northeastern part of Germany, import of all poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from the states of Brandenburg and Berlin, Germany, has been banned with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.
A CFS spokesman said about 10 000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat, as well as about 2.8 million poultry eggs, were imported into Hong Kong from Germany last year.
The CFS has banned the import of all poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from another state of Germany, Schleswig-Holstein, since December 22 last year due to an outbreak of avian influenza H5.
"We have contacted the German authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreaks in Germany. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:00
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