What Changed
- Immediate suspension of poultry meat, products, and eggs imported from Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
- Notification of a highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza outbreak provided by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
- CFS contacted Japanese authorities and initiated monitoring of World Organisation for Animal Health reports.
Importers, wholesalers, and food service businesses in Hong Kong SAR trading in Japanese agricultural goods face immediate supply adjustments following administrative action by municipal food safety authorities. On November 13, 2026, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced an immediate suspension on the importation of poultry meat and poultry products, including poultry eggs, originating from Kyoto Prefecture in Japan.
The regulatory action was triggered by notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan concerning an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Kyoto Prefecture. To safeguard public health in Hong Kong SAR, the CFS instructed the commercial trade to halt all relevant poultry imports from the affected prefecture with immediate effect.
According to figures cited by the CFS from the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported approximately 1 030 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 249.94 million poultry eggs from Japan during the first nine months of 2026. Although the suspension specifically targets imports originating from Kyoto Prefecture rather than a nationwide ban on Japanese poultry, commercial operators must review their supply chains to ensure compliance with the specific geographic restriction.
The CFS confirmed that it has established contact with the relevant Japanese authorities regarding the situation. Furthermore, the agency stated it will continuously monitor animal health updates released by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and Japanese counterpart authorities, taking appropriate operational responses as the epidemiological situation develops. Traders and logistics operators handling food imports into Hong Kong SAR should ensure that no shipments of poultry meat, eggs, or related products sourced from Kyoto Prefecture enter the territory during the suspension period.
Who May Be Affected
Food importers, wholesalers, retailers, and food service businesses in Hong Kong SAR dealing in poultry products from Japan.
Cross-Border Context
Applies to cross-border food trade between Japan and Hong Kong SAR.
What to check next
- Official announcements and press updates from the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of Hong Kong SAR.
- Disease situation reports issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.