Import of poultry meat and products from Limburg Province in Netherlands suspended

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 26) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Limburg Province in the Netherlands, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned 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 380 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from the Netherlands in the first three months of this year.

"The CFS has contacted the Dutch authority over the issue 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.
 
Ends/Wednesday, May 26, 2021