The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced on February 18 that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Fife of Scotland in the United Kingdom (UK), and a notification from the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland about an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Tarnogórski District of Śląskie 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 11,130 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 420,000 poultry eggs from the UK, and about 13,500 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 39.08 million poultry eggs from Poland last year.

"The CFS has contacted the British and Polish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE 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.

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