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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 19) that, based on the announcement made by the Canadian authorities about outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the regional district of Metro Vancouver in the Province of British Columbia, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the district with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public health.
A CFS spokesman said that more than 7 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 170 000 poultry eggs were imported from Canada into Hong Kong from January to October this year.
The CFS has contacted the Canadian authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation.
Ends/Friday, December 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:45
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