The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 13) that in view of a notification from the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland about outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Olsztyński District of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region and Gorzowski District of Lubuskie Region in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, in the first nine months of last year, Hong Kong imported about 9,900 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 21.32 million poultry eggs from Poland.

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

Ends/Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Issued at HKT 18:00

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