The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 1) that in view of a notification from the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland about an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Szamotulski District of Wielkopolskie Region in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area 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 3 110 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland last year.

"The CFS has contacted the Polish authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.