Import of poultry products from Zeewolde, the Netherlands, banned
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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 20) that in view of a notification from the Netherlands Consulate General in Hong Kong about an outbreak of H7 avian influenza on a poultry farm, it has banned the import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from the village of Zeewolde, Flevoland Province, the Netherlands, with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.

     A CFS spokesman said about 17 000 tonnes of frozen poultry and 1.3 million poultry eggs were imported from the Netherlands to Hong Kong last year.

     "We have contacted the Netherlands authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health on the avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:14

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