Hong Kong bans egg, poultry imports from Catalonia, Spain, due to recent bird flu outbreak on poultry farm in Catalonia

Nevin Barich

HONG KONG , May 21, 2013 (Xinhua News Agency) – The importation of poultry and poultry products, including eggs, from Catalonia, Spain have been banned with immediate effect, Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety announced Tuesday.

The move has been made to protect both public and animal health in view of a notification from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H7N1 avian influenza on a poultry farm in Catalonia.

A spokesman for the center said about 4,600 tons of frozen poultry meat was imported into Hong Kong from Spain last year.

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

(c) 2013 Xinhua News Agency

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