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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 25) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low-pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza on a poultry farm, it has banned the import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from North Rhine-Westphalia State, Germany, with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.
A CFS spokesman said about 10 000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat, as well as about 2.8 million poultry eggs, were imported into Hong Kong from Germany last year.
"We have contacted the German authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE 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/Monday, March 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:01
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