Import of poultry meat and products from areas in India suspended
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 14) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 and H5N8 avian influenza in a total of 30 districts in Chhattisgarh State, Uttar Pradesh State, Gujarat State, Punjab State, Madhya Pradesh State and Maharashtra State in India, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant districts with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
The relevant districts are as follows:
Chhattisgarh State
1. Surguja District
2. Balod District
Uttar Pradesh State
3. Unnao District
Gujarat State
4. Bhavnagar District
5. Tapi District
Punjab State
6. Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District
7. Ludhiana District
8. Pathankot District
Madhya Pradesh State
9. Mandsaur District
10. Raisen District
11. Harda District
Maharashtra State
12. Ahmednagar District
13. Pune District
14. Latur District
15. Buldhana District
16. Hingoli District
17. Nanded District
18. Beed District
19. Palghar District
20. Amravati District
21. Raigad District
22. Thane District
23. Nashik District
24. Gadchiroli District
25. Akola District
26. Nagpur District
27. Mumbai Suburban District
28. Satara District
29. Yavatmal District
30. Gondia District
A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with India for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no poultry eggs from India were imported into Hong Kong in the first six months of this year.
"The CFS has contacted the Indian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.