April 15, 2014

Following notification on an outbreak of avian influenza, Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety has banned the import of poultry and poultry products, including eggs, from Kumamoto Prefecture of Japan.

The move was taken for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health as the centre received notification from the Japanese authorities about an outbreak of high-pathogenic H5 avian influenza on a broiler farm in the prefecture.

About 8,000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 17 million poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Japan last year, a spokesman for the centre said.

The centre has contacted the Japanese 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.