Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, February 21, 2004
HK halts imports of BC poultry meat
The Hong Kong government announced Friday to temporarily stop processing applications for importing poultry meat from the province of British Columbia in Canada as a public health precaution of warding off bird flu.
The Hong Kong government announced Friday to temporarily stop processing applications for importing poultry meat from the province of British Columbia in Canada as a public health precaution of warding off bird flu.
A case of H7 avian influenza, a less deadly type than the one reported in some countries in Asia, has been confirmed on a chicken farm in the west coastal province.
The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau said it will seek further information from Canada on the details of the outbreak before considering whether or not additional measures should be taken to protect public health.
The bureau said it will also make reference to the World HealthOrganization for animal health's guidelines and recommendations.
Frozen and chilled poultry meat from Canada accounts for about one percent of the total imports of Hong Kong, the bureau said.
The government stopped processing applications for the importation of all live birds into Hong Kong on January 30.