November 20, 2013

Hong Kong bans import of Germany's poultry products

In response to a notification from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low-pathogenic H5 avian influenza on a poultry farm in Thuringen, Hong Kong has banned the import of poultry and poultry products from the German state of Thuringen with immediate effect.

This is according to Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong has contacted the German authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreaks in the country.

About 10,000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat, as well as about 2.8 million poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Germany last year.