On November 15, Due to the announcement of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture on the detection of an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Csongrád-Csanád district in Hungary and the announcement of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) on the detection of an outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza H5 birds in the province of Utrecht in the Netherlands, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) announced that, import of poultry meat and poultry products from aforementioned areas to Hong Kong is suspended.

According to the data from Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), in the first nine months of the current year, Hong Kong imported about 270 tons of frozen poultry meat from Hungary and about 50 tons of frozen poultry meat from the Netherlands.

“CFS established contact with the Hungarian and Dutch authorities and will closely monitor information on avian flu outbreaks issued by WOAH and relevant authorities. Appropriate action will definitely be taken,” said a CFS spokesman.