The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 15) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Confluencia Department of the Province of Neuquén and General Pueyrredón Partido of the Province of Buenos Aires in Argentina, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the 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 130 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Argentina last year.

"The CFS has contacted the Argentinian 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.