Import of poultry meat and products from Letsemeng Local Municipality in South Africa suspended

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 22) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H7N2 avian influenza in Letsemeng Local Municipality in South Africa, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend 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 Hong Kong currently has an established protocol with South Africa for import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. No poultry meat was imported from South Africa last 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.