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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 24) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an additional outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 in Israel, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the country with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong did not import any poultry meat or poultry eggs from Israel last year.
"The CFS has contacted the Israeli authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:02
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