HK bans import of poultry eggs from Hualien County, Taiwan

August 5, 2013
Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department received notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) today (August 5) that there have been outbreaks of low pathogenic H5N2 and H5N3 avian influenza detected on poultry farms in Hualien County in Taiwan. The CFS announced that import of poultry eggs from Hualien County would be banned with immediate effect whereas import of those from Penghu County has been banned since November 23 last year.

A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong does not import any live poultry or poultry meat from Taiwan, but a small quantity of poultry eggs is imported from Taiwan. According to records, between January and May this year about 1 600 000 poultry eggs have been imported into Hong Kong from Taiwan.

"We will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreak and the latest situation in Taiwan, and will maintain close contacts with major local egg importers, distributors and supermarkets," the spokesman said.

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