The decision was made in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Uckermark District of the State of Brandenburg in Germany, and an notification from the Swedish Board of Agriculture about an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Mönsterås Municipality, Kalmar County in Sweden. The Centre for Food Safety has instructed Hong Kong trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from Uckermark District and Oskarshamn Municipality, which is adjacent to Mönsterås Municipality, with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 3,900 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 1.41 million poultry eggs from Germany and about 1,550 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Sweden last year.

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

Japan and France

On Feb 3, the CFS announced that, due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan and an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Ardennes Department in France, , they have supended the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from these areas immediately.

According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 70 tonnes of chilled poultry meat, about 5,680 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 270.17 million poultry eggs from Japan, and about 80 tonnes of chilled poultry meat, about 11,860 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 1.07 million poultry eggs from France last year.

Poland, France and South Korea

On February 1, the CFS suspended the import of poultry meat and products from Korea due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Wejherowski District of Pomorskie Region in Poland, Lot-Et-Garonne Department in France and Hampyeong-gun of Jeollanam-do Province, Pohang-si of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Paju-si of Gyeonggi-do Province in South Korea.

According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 13,500 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 39.08 million poultry eggs from Poland, about 11,940 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 1.07 million poultry eggs from France and about 1,190 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 11.15 million poultry eggs from Korea last year.