Hong Kong halts poultry imports from parts of Canada and US over bird flu
The Centre for Food Safety said the order covers poultry meat and products, eggs among them, from areas in Manitoba, Minnesota and Indiana…
Hong Kong has halted imports of poultry meat and related products from several parts of Canada and the United States because of bird flu outbreaks, according to Bernama-Xinhua.
The city's food safety authority made the decision on Tuesday. The affected areas are the Municipality of Pembina in Manitoba, Canada; Stearns County and Benton County in Minnesota; and Jay County in Indiana, in the United States.
Eggs are also covered
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS), part of the Hong Kong government's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, told the trade to stop bringing in poultry meat and products, eggs among them, from these places. The order took effect straight away, and the aim is to protect public health in Hong Kong.
Outbreaks reported to WOAH
The step came after the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) flagged cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in these areas, a CFS spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the CFS has been in touch with the Canadian and American authorities about the matter. Information that the relevant authorities and the WOAH release about the outbreaks will be closely followed by the CFS.
