The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in Hong Kong has prohibited the import of oysters that are harvested in British Columbia, Canada for raw consumption.
The ban comes after the Canadian authorities notified that the oysters for raw consumption harvested on or before 18 August in coastal waters of British Columbia may have been contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
CFS said: "This morning, the CFS received information from the Canadian authorities that the affected oysters could have been contaminated by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and that those oysters for raw consumption harvested on or before August 18 in coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada were being recalled."
CFS has now imposed a ban on the imports and sale of these oysters in the country. It is also urging all the traders in the country to stop selling the affected product and recall it from the market.
Consumption of the products contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus may cause diarrhoea, vomiting, mild fever and abdominal pain.
The food safety authority requested the Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and implement appropriate surveillance programmes and actions.
Canada is also recalling these oysters with unacceptable levels of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from its marketplace.
