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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 8) that in view of notifications about outbreaks of various subtypes of avian influenza, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the following areas with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public health.
The United States (US)
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Location: Nobles County and Kandiyohi County, State of Minnesota; Beadle County, State of South Dakota; and Judith Basin County, State of Montana
Subtype: highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza as notified by the US authorities
Canada
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Location: Oxford County, Province of Ontario
Subtype: H5 avian influenza as notified by the Canadian authorities
The Netherlands
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Location: Province of Noord-Brabant
Subtype: low pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza as notified by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Palestine
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Location: Gaza Strip
Subtype: highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza as notified by the OIE
Burkina Faso
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Location: Kadiogo Province and Sanguie Province
Subtype: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza as notified by the OIE
A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 267 000 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 530 million poultry eggs from the US; about 15 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 12.3 million poultry eggs from the Netherlands, and about 9 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 1.58 million poultry eggs from Canada last year. However, no poultry meat or poultry eggs were imported from Palestine and Burkina Faso last year.
"The CFS has contacted the authorities concerned over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in these districts. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:01
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