Hong Kong Bans Poultry Meat, Products from DR Congo

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) have been banned from entering Hong Kong.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said this became necessary following notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of high pathogenic H5 avian influenza in DR Congo.

A CFS spokesman said that as Hong Kong has not established any protocol with DR 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.