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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 17) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Kings County, State of California, the United States (US), it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the county with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public health.
A CFS spokesman said about 267 000 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 530 million poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from the US last year.
"The CFS has contacted the American authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:01
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