The Center for Food Safety of the Hong Kong government announced
Monday the processing of applications for the importation of
poultry and poultry products from Japan will be suspended with
immediate effect.
"The decision was taken following confirmation of an outbreak of
highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 in a poultry farm in Miyazaki
Prefecture of Japan," a spokesman for the Center said.
"We will seek further information about the case from the
Japanese authorities," he added.
Hong Kong imported some 1,800 tons of frozen poultry meat/offal
from Japan from January to September last year.
(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2007)