HK bans import of poultry products from parts of Korea

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 30) that, in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in South Chung Cheong Do and South Jeolla Do of Korea, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the two areas with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.

A CFS spokesman said about 5 000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat, as well as about 4.9 million poultry eggs, were imported into Hong Kong from Korea between January and November last year.

An import ban on the same items from North Jeolla Do, Korea, has been in effect since mid-January and is still in force, he added.

"We will be in close liaison with the Korean authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Thursday, January 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:15