Hong Kong Suspends Poultry Imports from Germany, Lithuania, Vietnam and South Africa Due to Avian Flu Concerns

 Hong Kong suspended imports of poultry MEAT, eggs and poultry products from Bremen in Germany and Taurage County in Lithuania due to outbreaks of H5N8 avian influenza, and suspended imports of poultry from Ninh Thuan province in Vietnam and KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa due to outbreaks avian influenza H5N1.

The Hong Kong Center for Food Safety (CFS) of the Department of Food Hygiene and the Environment announced that, in line with the World Organization for Animal HEALTH (OIE) notification of an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in the state of Bremen in Germany, an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in the municipality of Jurbarkas district of Taurage county in Lithuania, an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Dannhauser municipality of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Ninh province in Vietnam, CFS has instructed to suspend the import of poultry meat and poultry products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas from effective immediately to protect the health of the people of Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong imported about 180 tons of frozen poultry meat and about 0.53 million chicken eggs from Germany in the first three months of this year, according to the Census and Statistics Department. Hong Kong has now entered into a protocol with Lithuania to import poultry meat but not eggs, and has now signed a protocol with Viet Nam to import poultry eggs but not poultry meat. In the first three months of this year, Hong Kong imported about 7.15 million chicken eggs from Vietnam, while no poultry meat was imported from Lithuania, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.

“CFS has contacted the relevant authorities on this matter and will be closely monitoring information released by the OIE and the relevant authorities regarding outbreaks of avian influenza. Appropriate measures will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the food safety center said.