The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 16) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Mazandaran Province, Iran, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the province concerned with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong did not import any poultry meat or poultry eggs from Iran last year.
"The CFS has contacted the Iranian authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.