Hong Kong bans import of poultry meat and products from Pickens County, Alabama and Chattooga County, Georgia in US
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 27) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza in Pickens County, Alabama in the United States (US), and a notification from the US authorities about an outbreak of low pathogenic H7 avian influenza in Chattooga County, Georgia, the CFS has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the two areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported 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 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 27, 2017
