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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 5) that in view of notifications from the American authorities and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N2 and H5N1 avian influenza in Okanogan County, Washington State, the US, and Burgas Province, Bulgaria, respectively, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the two areas concerned with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public health.
A CFS spokesman said about 267 000 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 530 million poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from the US last year. However, Hong Kong did not import any poultry meat or poultry eggs from Bulgaria.
"The CFS has contacted the American and Bulgarian authorities concerned over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, February 5, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:31
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