The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced that it has suspended import of poultry meat and products from areas in Mexico and Canada.
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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced on April 28 that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza in the State of Coahuila in Mexico, and a notification from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Albert County, New Brunswick Province in Canada, 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 Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Mexico for import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs.
According to the Census and Statistics Department, no poultry meat was imported into Hong Kong from Mexico last year. Moreover, Hong Kong imported about 1 020 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat from Canada last year.
"The CFS has contacted the Mexican and Canadian authorities over the issues 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. ■
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