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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 21) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza in Tarn Department of France, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from Tarn Department with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong. Import bans imposed earlier on poultry meat and products from other affected areas in France are still in force.
A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 11 200 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 335 000 poultry eggs from France last year.
"The CFS has contacted the French 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/Thursday, April 21, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:06
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