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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 16) that in view of a notification from the United States (US) authorities about an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Deschutes County, State of Oregon, US, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the county 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.
"The CFS has contacted the American 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," the spokesman said.
Ends/Monday, February 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:20
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