Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ18: Quarantine requirements for importation of animals
Following is a question by the Hon Li Kwok-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Health Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (February 15):
Question:
Currently, the authorities classify various countries or regions into three
groups to impose different quarantine requirements on importing dogs and cats.
The requirements in respect of Group III countries or regions are the strictest,
as dogs and cats from these places are subject to a four-month quarantine in an
approved Animal Management Centre after arrival in the territory, resulting in
each importer having to bear fees in excess of $10,000. Some members of the
public have pointed out that while there has been no confirmed rabies case in
Macau in the past several decades, the region is still classified as a Group III
territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of the
criteria adopted for determining the groups into which individual countries or
regions are classified, and whether it regularly reviews the classification?
Reply:
Madam President:
The risk of introducing rabies by the importation of animals from different
countries varies. Currently Hong Kong places countries or areas into one of
three groups based on a risk assessment of rabies being introduced from those
countries by the importation of animals. The current classification was last
reviewed in 1994. Hong Kong is recognised by the World Organisation for Animal
Health (OIE) as free of rabies.
The risk assessment is based on scientific reasoning. Factors taken into
consideration include the presence of a well established veterinary service in
the country where the animal comes from, maintenance of a rabies surveillance
system, effective border control measures to prevent introduction of rabies,
history of reports to OIE on rabies cases and control measures, implementation
of disease control measures such as vaccination and stray dog control, presence
of rabies in neighbouring countries/territories, as well as presence of rabies
in wildlife and control measures applied. When the Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation Department (AFCD) decided the classification of different countries
or areas, the same criteria was adopted. Information used for risk assessment is
obtained from a wide variety of sources, including OIE country reports, WHO
rabies survey, reports published by national, state, provincial or territory
administrations, published papers and responses from countries about their
rabies status and control measures applied.
According to the current classification of the AFCD, Group I includes countries
where rabies has been absent for a very long time and where neighbouring
countries are free of rabies. This group currently includes 6 countries, all of
which are islands such as Australia, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Group II
includes countries where rabies is absent, or present at a very low level in
wildlife and control measures such as import control, vaccination and disease
surveillance are strictly implemented. There are currently 40
countries/territories in this group, such as France, Spain and Canada. Group III
includes all remaining countries or territories, including Macau and Argentina,
etc. We have been communicating with the Macau authorities to seek information
on matters concerned with rabies there.
In the light of changes of the situation of rabies in other countries and new
developments in scientific measures in controlling rabies, the Government
reviews the country classification and the classification of individual
countries or areas from time to time. The latest review is almost completed,
including the classification of Macau.
Ends/Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:57
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