The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced on October 22 that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Verona Province of Veneto Region in Italy, 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, in the first six months of this year, Hong Kong imported about 550 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 66 000 poultry eggs from Italy.

"The CFS has contacted the Italian authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE 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.