The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 22) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the District of Potsdam-Mittelmark of the State of Brandenburg in Germany, and an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan respectively, 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, Hong Kong imported about 30 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Germany; and about 810 tonnes of frozen poultry meat, and about 140.6 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first six months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the German and Japanese authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and 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, October 22, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:05

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