Import of poultry meat and products from areas in US, France and Mexico suspended

*********************************************************************************

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 13) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H7N1 avian influenza in Hopkins County, State of Texas in the United States (US), an outbreak of low pathogenic H5N3 avian influenza in Finistère Department in France and outbreaks of highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza in Guanajuato State and Queretaro State of Mexico, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong last year imported about 290 000 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 580 million poultry eggs from the US and 14 000 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 7.6 million poultry eggs from France. Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Mexico for import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. Hong Kong imported 100 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Mexico last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the US, French and Mexican authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:11

NNNN

Archives Yesterday's Press Releases

Back to Index Page

Today's Press Releases