Press Releases
HWFB and AQSIQ sign Co-operation Arrangement (with photos)
The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, today (October 20)
signed a new Co-operation Arrangement with the Minister of the State General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), Mr Li
Changjiang, in Beijing, to further enhance the exchange and co-operation between
the two authorities' on food safety, inspection and quarantine of live animals
and plants as well as hygiene inspection.
At a meeting in Beijing on August 23, Dr Chow and Mr Li had agreed to update the
existing Co-operation Arrangement regarding food safety, inspection and
quarantine of live animals, plants as well as hygiene quarantine of the two
places.
New elements were added to the new co-operation agreement which could more
effectively protect public health and food safety of Hong Kong, Dr Chow said.
For example, given the importance of exercising control at source, the two sides
agreed that Hong Kong could enhance the inspection, quarantine and supervision
work at source by making ad hoc inspections to farms in the Mainland so as to
ensure the food and agricultural products supplied to Hong Kong were safe and
hygienic.
In addition, under the new agreement, the two sides would develop a common
procedure, methodology and standard of inspection and quarantine, including
laboratory tests and analytical techniques.
The two sides also agreed to further strengthen the co-ordination in combating
illegal imports and exports, as well as on major international issues relating
to inspection and quarantine.
"When a major inspection and quarantine issue arises in the two places, we can
convene an urgent senior level meeting if necessary," Dr Chow added.
According to the new co-operation arrangement, Guangdong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai
Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureaux would continue to maintain close
liaison and collaboration with Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene
Department, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Department of
Health. These would include regular meetings on the safety and hygiene of
Mainland food destined for Hong Kong, irregular meetings and discussions on core
business and entry-exit hygiene inspection so as to further bolster the
communication and collaboration of the two places.
Hong Kong and the Mainland also agreed to continue to have exchanges on the
laws, regulatory regimes, standards and management of inspection, quarantine and
hygiene services on food, live animals and plants and their products. When
necessary, technical experts and management personnel would have dialogues and
discussion, technical exchange, field trips and visits regarding inspection and
quarantine issues or other subjects.
Ends/Thursday, October 20, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:15
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