HK bans import of poultry meat and poultry products from two provinces of the Netherlands

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 21) that, based on the announcement made by the Dutch authority about an outbreak of H5 avian influenza in South Holland Province, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the province concerned and its neighbouring province, Utrecht, with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public health.

A CFS spokesman said, "An import ban on poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from Oudewater Municipality in Utrecht Province was imposed on Tuesday (November 18) due to an outbreak of avian influenza. In view of further development of the outbreak, the CFS has decided to extend the ban to the two aforesaid provinces."

About 18 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 14.3 million poultry eggs were imported from the Netherlands into Hong Kong last year.

The CFS will continue to liaise closely with the Dutch authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health on the avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation.

Ends/Friday, November 21, 2014