The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 31) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of high pathogenic H5 avian influenza in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the country with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
 

A CFS spokesman said that as Hong Kong has not established any protocol with the Democratic Republic of the Congo for imports of poultry meat and eggs, there is no import of such commodities from the country.

"The CFS has contacted the Congolese authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.