Egg Freeze from Hong Kong to the US: H5N1 Alarm

The Hong Kong authorities have temporarily suspended the import of poultry meat and products from certain regions of the United States and Denmark due to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks. The decision covers Jackson County in Minnesota, USA, and the municipality of Lolland in Denmark. The Hong Kong Food Safety Center has called for the immediate halt of imports of the relevant products, including chicken eggs, effective 27 October 2026, to protect public health.

Import of Products from the United States and Denmark Halted

The Food Safety Center, part of the Hong Kong Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene, instructed importers not to accept poultry meat and products coming from the specified regions following the decision. The implementation covers not only eggs but also chicken meat and other poultry products.

Officials said the decision was taken in response to notifications from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreaks in the two regions.

Hong Kong's Import from the United States Draws Attention

According to Hong Kong's official trade data, in the first six months of 2026, about 24,190 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 20.2 million poultry eggs were imported from the United States. During the same period, roughly 390 tonnes of frozen poultry meat were imported from Denmark. These figures illustrate the importance of the decision for Hong Kong's food supply.

Officials Closely Monitor the Outbreak

The Hong Kong Food Safety Center said it had communicated with U.S. and Danish authorities about the developments. The institution announced that it would take necessary measures in line with the outbreak's course by following new information from WOAH and relevant officials.