Hong Kong bans import of poultry meat and products from areas in Spain and US

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 6) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in the Province of Barcelona in Spain, and notifications from the United States (US) authorities about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza in Lincoln County, State of Tennessee and an outbreak of low pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Barron County, State of Wisconsin in the US, the CFS has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 4 000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat and 51.9 million poultry eggs from Spain, and about 300 000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat and 526 million poultry eggs from the US last year.

"The CFS has contacted the Spanish and the US authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Monday, March 6, 2017