Hong Kong bans import of poultry meat and products from Dak Lak Province, Vietnam

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 H5N1 avian influenza in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the province with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that some 195,000 poultry eggs were imported from Vietnam into Hong Kong last year.

"The CFS has contacted the Vietnamese authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Tuesday, May 26, 2015