HK bans import of poultry products from Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
************************************************************

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 14) that in view of a notification from the Japanese authorities about an outbreak of high-pathogenic H5 avian influenza on a broiler farm in Kumamoto Prefecture, it has banned the import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from the prefecture with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.

     A CFS spokesman said about 8 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 17 million poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Japan last year.

     The CFS has contacted the Japanese authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation.

Ends/Monday, April 14, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:15

NNNN