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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 17) that in view of the notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly-pathogenic H7 avian influenza on a layer hen farm in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from this area has been banned with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.
A CFS spokesman said about 2 076 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 120 000 poultry eggs from Italy were imported into Hong Kong last year.
"We have contacted the Italian authority over the matter and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreak in Italy. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the developments of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Saturday, August 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:04
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