Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) announced that due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu in Eslöv Municipality of Skåne County, Sweden, imports of poultry meat and products from the area will be suspended. The import ban also extends to Höör and Kävlinge in Skåne County. These areas near the affected farm, which has been placed under quarantine.

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1,550 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Sweden last year.

"The CFS has contacted the Swedish authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.