Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Poland suspended
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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 12) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Brodnica District of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, Olsztyn District of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region and Zgierz District of Łódzkie Region in Poland, 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 690 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland in the first three months of this year.
“The CFS has contacted the Polish authority over the issue 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.