Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety has announced that the processing of applications for importing poultry and poultry products from Germany are suspended with immediate effect.

"The decision was taken following confirmation of a case involving the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 on a poultry farm in the country," a spokesman said.

He added that the Center was seeking further information about the case from the relevant authorities.

Hong Kong has imported about 1,400 tons of frozen poultry meat or offal from Germany since April this year.