HONG KONG — The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong announced the decision not to import poultry products from areas in Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States over concerns of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in the last few months.

In its statement, the CFS explained that Hong Kong would suspend imports from two counties in California, and one county each from Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio and Wisconsin.

“The CFS has contacted the Polish, British and American authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks,” a CFS spokesperson said. “Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation.”

During the first nine months of 2023, Hong Kong imported about 21,470 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and approximately 57.11 million poultry eggs. In that same period, Hong Kong received about 2,140 tonnes of poultry meat from Poland and 540 tonnes of poultry from the United Kingdom.

This is the second major decision related to curbing animal disease made by Hong Kong this week.

Hong Kong reported on Dec. 9 that it would cull 900 pigs after African Swine Fever was detected in the New Territories district.