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A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (February 24) that import of raw oysters produced in Donegal County, Ireland had been banned.
"While following up on recent food poisoning outbreaks caused by Norovirus, the CFS was notified by the Irish authorities that the virus was found in a raw oyster processing plant in Donegal County. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has banned the import of all raw oysters from Donegal County into Hong Kong since February 17. Other than the concerned Irish authorities, the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) of the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and importers which had imported raw oysters from Ireland recently were notified of the decision," a spokesman for the CFS said.
"Although the Irish authorities have stopped raw oysters produced in Donegal County from being exported to Hong Kong since February 17, the CFS today found raw oysters originated from the county imported into Hong Kong via France. The importer concerned has voluntarily surrendered the batch of raw oysters concerned to the CFS for disposal," the spokesman continued.
On that, the spokesman reminded the trade that import of raw oysters produced in the county had been banned.
The CFS will continue to follow up the case closely and take appropriate action. Investigation is still ongoing.
Ends/Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 22:11
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