The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 26) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Dordogne Department, France, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area concerned with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
About 7 500 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat were imported into Hong Kong from France from January to September this year. No poultry eggs were imported from France in the same period.
"The CFS has contacted the French 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.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201511/26/P201511260784.htm