Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today that in view of a notification from the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Services of Portugal about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Évora District in Portugal, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesperson said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, no poultry meat or eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Portugal in the first six months of this year.

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