The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 15) 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 and the United States (US), 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
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Łódzkie Region
(1) Sieradz District

US
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State of Arkansas
(2) Cleveland County

State of Tennessee
(3) Obion County

State of Kansas
(4) Smith County

State of New York
(5) Queens County

State of Texas
(6) Shelby County

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1 870 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland, and about 40 060 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 2.62 million poultry eggs from the US in the first nine months of last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Polish and American 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, January 15, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:57

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