The Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (GDCIQ) has suspended export of poultry products from certain areas to Hong Kong over a suspected case of H7 sub-type avian influenza (AI) in a poultry sample taken from a market stall in Zengcheng.
The export of live poultry and poultry products including chilled and frozen poultry, and poultry eggs to Hong Kong would be suspended.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has received notification from the GDCIQ.
According to the notification, currently there is one registered poultry farm within the 13km radius of the market supplying live poultry, but not chilled or frozen poultry, products to Hong Kong.
Although investigation results of H7 AI are all negative and no live poultry on the farm have presented AI clinical symptoms, the Guangdong authority has immediately taken the initiative to temporarily suspend export of live poultry from the farm concerned to Hong Kong as a precaution.
Currently, live poultry imported from the Mainland should come from farms registered with the local Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureaux.
All batch of live poultry have to undergo AI tests prior to export with accompanying animal health certificates.
Since 11 April, samples of live poultry imported from the Mainland have been taken at the Man Kam to Animal Inspection Station for rapid H7 AI tests and no samples were found with positive results.
