Press Releases

HKSARG suspended applications for frozen pork imports from Henan and Shenzhen

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) had contacted the inspection and quarantine authorities in Shenzhen yesterday for further understanding of the municipality's recall action of pork from the markets.


Initial information from the Shenzhen Municipal Government said the recall action was part of the enhanced measures taken by the authorities in response to the recent Streptococcus suis outbreak in Sichuan, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (August 15).


Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure and to assure the public's confidence in pork consumption, the HKSARG had decided not to process applications for importation of frozen pork from Henan (takes up 16 per cent of total imports from the Mainland to Hong Kong) and Shenzhen (there is no frozen pork exports to Hong Kong for the past 12 months) in the coming one or two days.


The HKSARG would continue to follow up the issue to obtain more information about the situation in Henan and Shenzhen before resuming processing import applications from the two places, the spokesman said.


There are also live pigs imported from Henan (takes up nine per cent of total imports), and Guangdong and Shenzhen (take up 19 per cent of total imports). The Government would step up inspection and quarantine at import control points and slaughterhouses in accordance with established procedures to ensure only healthy pigs enter the local market.


The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, made the above decision after chairing an urgent meeting on the issue. Dr Chow also appealed to the public not to buy pork where the source was doubtful. He reminded the public that it was an offence to bring raw pork meat into Hong Kong without a valid permit.



Ends/Monday, August 15, 2005

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