The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 3) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the District of Leer, the District of Schaumburg and the District of Wilhelmshaven of the State of Niedersachsen in Germany, and Lolland Municipality in Denmark 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 180 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Germany, and about 450 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 210 000 poultry eggs from Denmark last year.

     "The CFS has contacted the German and Danish 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/Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:20

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