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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 7) that in view of confirmation from the Korean authorities about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in the Provinces of North Chungcheong, Gyeonggi and South Gyeongsang in Korea, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from these provinces with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.
A CFS spokesman said about 5 700 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat, as well as about 6.7 million poultry eggs, were imported into Hong Kong from Korea last year.
Import bans on the same items from North Jeolla, South Jeolla and South Chungcheong, Korea, have been in effect since January 2014 and are still in force, he added.
"We will be in close liaison with the Korean 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/Friday, February 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:10
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