Import of poultry meat and products from Jasper County, State of Missouri, US suspended

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 7) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H7N1 avian influenza in Jasper County, State of Missouri, the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the county with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong imported about 290 000 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 580 million poultry eggs from the US last year.

"The CFS has contacted the US authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
 
Ends/Wednesday, March 7, 2018