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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 13) 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 State of Lower Saxony, Germany, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the state with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.
A CFS spokesman said about 8 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat were imported into Hong Kong from Germany last year.
An import ban on the same items from two other German states (Thuringen and Baden-Wurttemberg) has been in effect since last November and it is still in force, he added.
The CFS has contacted the German authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation.
Ends/Thursday, March 13, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:25
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