The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced on April 28 that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza in the State of Coahuila in Mexico, and a notification from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Albert County, New Brunswick Province in Canada, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

The relevant areas are as follows:

Canada

Alberta Province

(1) Warner County

(2) Camrose County

Saskatchewan Province

(3) Rural Municipality of Moose Creek

Ontario Province

(4) Township of West Grey

Quebec Province

(5) Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality

(6) Les Sources Regional County Municipality

France

(7) Dordogne Department

(8) Finistère Department

(9) Corrèze Department

(10) Seine-Maritime Department

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1,020 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat from Canada and about 60 tonnes of chilled poultry meat, about 4,710 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 240,000 poultry eggs from France last year.

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

Source: DotDotNews

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