The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has issued a ban on poultry and poultry product imports from North Rhine-Westphalia State, Germany over bird flu fears.
This move has come after the agency received a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low-pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza on a poultry farm.
Commenting on the ban CFS spokesman said that about 10 000 tons of frozen and chilled poultry meat, along with 2.8 million poultry eggs, were imported into Hong Kong from Germany, during 2012.
"We have contacted the German authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreaks in the country," the spokesman said.
"Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman concluded.
Bird flu can lead to fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis, and, in severe cases, breathing problems and pneumonia.
