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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 16) received notification from the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (GDCIQ) that in view of a suspected case of H7 sub-type avian influenza (AI) in a poultry sample taken from a market stall in Zengcheng, Guangzhou, export of live poultry and poultry products (including chilled and frozen poultry, and poultry eggs) to Hong Kong would be suspended.
According to the notification, there is at present one registered poultry farm within the 13 km radius of the market supplying live poultry, but not chilled or frozen poultry, products to Hong Kong.
Although so far surveillance results of H7 AI are all negative and no live poultry on the farm have presented AI clinical symptoms, the Guangdong authority has, as a precaution, immediately strengthened control measures including taking the initiative to temporarily suspend export of live poultry from the farm concerned to Hong Kong.
A spokesman for the CFS welcomed the AI control measures taken by the GDCIQ. He said, "In line with the spirit of the meeting on preventive and control measures against H7N9 AI with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine held on April 7 at Zhuhai, both sides have implemented a series of AI control measures. These include, for example, the Mainland authority will temporarily suspend export of poultry and poultry products within the 13 km radius of the infected area to Hong Kong if there is an outbreak of H7N9 on the Mainland. Surveillance against H7 on poultry and poultry products and increasing the sampling proportion and inspection frequency etc. will also be implemented.
"Currently, all live poultry imported from the Mainland must come from farms registered with the local Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureaux. Every batch of live poultry has to pass AI tests before export with accompanying animal health certificates. Since April 11, samples of live poultry imported from the Mainland have been taken at the Man Kam To Animal Inspection Station for rapid H7 AI tests. No samples are so far found with positive results."
He said, "CFS staff will continue their inspections of registered poultry farms as a routine control measure. The CFS will closely monitor the latest development of the case and adjust the surveillance measures and follow-up action as appropriate to ensure public and animal health in Hong Kong."
Ends/Thursday, May 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:04
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