The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 19) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Korea, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

The relevant areas are as follows:

(1) Sejong-si

Jeollabuk-do Province
(2) Buan-gun
(3) Gimje-si

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
(4) Yeongcheon-si

Jeollanam-do Province
(5) Gangjin-gun
(6) Yeongam-gun

Chungcheongnam-do Province
(7) Seosan-si

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 20 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 15.52 million poultry eggs from Korea in the first nine months of this year.

"The CFS has contacted the Korean 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.