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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 12) that in view of the announcement of the Taiwanese authorities of further outbreaks of H5N2 sub-type and H5N8 sub-type avian influenza in Yunlin County and Chiayi County respectively, and the development of avian influenza outbreaks detected in various parts of Taiwan, the import of poultry eggs from Taiwan will be banned with immediate effect for the protection of public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong does not import any live poultry or poultry meat from Taiwan, but a small quantity of poultry eggs is imported from Taiwan. According to records, about 6 million poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Taiwan between January and November last year.
The CFS will closely monitor information issued by the Taiwanese authorities and the World Organisation for Animal Health on the avian influenza outbreaks in Taiwan, and take appropriate action in response to the development of the situation.
Ends/Monday, January 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:15
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