HK bans import of poultry meat and products from Niagara Region, Ontario Province of Canada

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 11) that in view of a notification from the Canadian authorities about an outbreak of low pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Niagara Region, Ontario Province, Canada, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the region with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 5 700 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 325 000 poultry eggs from Canada in the first five months of this year.

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

Ends/Monday, July 11, 2016