The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 12) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Gaiman Department of the Province of Chubut in Argentina and an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the District of Schwäbisch Hall of the State of Baden-Württemberg 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 130 tonnes and about 30 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Argentina and Germany respectively last year.

"The CFS has contacted the Argentinian and German authorities over the issues 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.