Import of poultry meat and products from areas in US and UK suspended
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 25) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom (UK) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Washington County of the State of Indiana in the United States (US), and in Teignbridge District of Devon County in the UK 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 79,630 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 19.6 million poultry eggs from the US, and about 910 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 1.34 million poultry eggs from the UK last year.
"The CFS has contacted the American and British 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, February 25, 2025
