Hong Kong to suspend poultry imports from US, France and Mexico

Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has suspended imports of poultry and other meat products from certain locations in the US, France and Mexico.

The decision was taken by CFS after a notification was released by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) stating an outbreak of low-pathogenic H7N1 avian influenza in Hopkins County, Texas, US, in addition to an outbreak of low-pathogenic H5N3 avian influenza in Finistère Department in France.

OIE also noted an outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza in Guanajuato and Queretaro, Mexico.

CFS has instructed companies to immediately suspend poultry meat and eggs imports from the above-mentioned areas in order to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said: “The CFS has contacted the US, French and Mexican authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the development of the situation.”

The spokesperson further explained that Hong Kong has imported 290,000t of chilled and frozen poultry meat, as well as 580 million poultry eggs from the US last year.

Last year, Hong Kong imported 14,000t of chilled and frozen poultry, 7.6 million eggs from France, and 100t of frozen poultry from Mexico.

Hong Kong has already established a protocol with Mexico on the importation of poultry meat.