The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today on April 12 that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Districts of Ammerland, Vechta, Diepholz, Wesermarsch and Emden of the State of Niedersachsen; and Districts of Saalekreis and Altmarkkreis Salzwedel of the State of Sachsen-Anhalt in Germany, 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 3,900 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 1.41 million poultry eggs from Germany last year.

"The CFS has contacted the German 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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