The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 27) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Province of Arezzo of the Toscana Region in Italy, and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in areas in Korea respectively, 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:

Italy
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Toscana Region 
(1) Province of Arezzo 

Korea
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Chungcheongnam-do Province
(2) Yesan-gun

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
(3) Bonghwa-gun
(4) Seongju-gun

Gyeongsangnam-do Province 
(5) Geochang-gun

(6) Sejong-si

Gyeonggi-do Province 
(7) Pocheon-si

Jeollanam-do Province 
(8) Gurye-gun
(9) Muan-gun

Jeollabuk-do Province
(10) Gimje-si
(11) Jangsu-gun

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 90 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 10 000 poultry eggs from Italy, and 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 Italian 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, March 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:07

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