The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 11) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Long An Province in Vietnam, the CFS has suspended the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the province with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that at present, Hong Kong has an established protocol with Vietnam for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat. Hong Kong imported 650 000 poultry eggs from the country in the first nine months of last year.

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

Ends/Friday, January 11, 2019
Issued at HKT 18:00

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