Hong Kong bans import of poultry meat and products from Matjhabeng Local Municipality, South Africa

The Centre for Food Safety has contacted the South African authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health on avian influenza outbreaks

HONG KONG, The People's Republic of China, October 10, 2017/APO/ -- 

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 10) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Matjhabeng Local Municipality, South Africa, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that no poultry meat or poultry eggs were imported from South Africa in the first six months of this year.

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

Distributed by APO on behalf of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.