The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 13) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland and Canada, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     The relevant areas are as follows:
     
Poland
----
Mazowieckie Region
(1) Białobrzegi District

Lubuskie Region
(2) Sulęcin District

Germany
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State of Nordrhein-Westfalen
(3) District of Rhein-Erft-Kreis

Netherlands
----
Flevoland Province
(4) Dronten Municipality

Ireland
----
(5) County Monaghan

Canada
----
Alberta Province
(6) Leduc County

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Ireland for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, in the first nine months of this year, while no poultry meat or eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Canada, Hong Kong imported about 1 870 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland; about 60 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Germany; about 150 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from the Netherlands; and about 20 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Ireland.

     "The CFS has contacted the Polish, German, Dutch, Irish and Canadian 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/Thursday, November 13, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:45

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