Hong Kong authorities announced Wednesday that they have banned the import of poultry meat and products from France's Lot Department because of outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza.

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) of Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said that in view of a notification from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in various areas including Lot Department of France, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from Lot Department with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

The CFS also said import bans imposed earlier on poultry meat and products from other affected areas in France are still in force.

About 9,800 tons of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 335,000 poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from France from January to November last year.

"The CFS has contacted the French authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman of the CFS said.

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