The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 20) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in India and Korea, 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:

India
----
Andhra Pradesh State
(1) Chittoor District

Korea
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Chungcheongbuk-do Province
(2) Jincheon-gun
(3) Eumseong-gun
(4) Chungju-si
(5) Okcheon-gun
(6) Goesan-gun

Jeollanam-do Province
(7) Yeongam-gun
(8) Naju-si
(9) Gokseong-gun

Chungcheongnam-do Province
(10) Asan-si 
(11) Cheonan-si 
(12) Dangjin-si

Jeollabuk-do Province
(13) Gochang-gun
(14) Iksan-si
(15) Namwon-si

Gyeonggi-do Province
(16) Anseong-si

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with India for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no eggs were imported into Hong Kong from India; and Hong Kong imported about 380 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 30.7 million poultry eggs from Korea last year. 

     "The CFS has contacted the Indian and Korean 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/Friday, February 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:42

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