Press Releases
Government steps up monitoring of pork safety
The Government had taken a number of measures to ensure that only healthy
pigs were supplied to market for human consumption, a spokesman for the Food
and Health Bureau said today (May 7).
"We have stepped up the monitoring of live pigs and pork since the discovery
of human swine flu cases in the world," he said.
"The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Food
and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) had collected more samples for
testing in local pig farms and slaughterhouses respectively. All samples
were tested negative to H1N1 Influenza A using PCR tests.
"AFCD has completed inspections of all the 43 pig farms in Hong Kong. The
department has issued guidelines to pig farmers reminding them to stay alert
and maintain good environmental and personal hygiene and bio-security
measures on the farms, such as wearing masks when taking care of pigs and
washing hands frequently.
"Pig farmers should report to AFCD any abnormalities in farms and so far, no
abnormalities have been found. The department has also set up a hotline (tel:
2461 6510) for pig farmers to enquire and report any issues related to human
swine flu.
"FEHD also reminded slaughterhouse staff and people who might have a chance
of being in contact with live pigs to pay attention to personal hygiene,
wear masks and appropriate protective gear," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said a World Health Organisation (WHO) official had indicated
that meat from pigs infected with human swine flu might carry disease and
should not be consumed by humans.
But the official had also stressed that WHO's earlier guidelines that pork
consumption was safe remained valid and the current monitoring measures
could effectively prevent sick pigs from entering the food chain.
WHO has issued a joint statement with the World Organisation for Animal
Health, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and World
Trade Organization saying that pork and pork products which were handled
properly and thoroughly cooked were not a source of infection. To date there
is no evidence that the virus is transmitted by food.
The spokesman said, "The prevailing monitoring measures can effectively
prevent sick pigs from entering the food chain. These measures include
closely monitoring the health condition of the live pigs in local farms; all
imported pigs should come from registered farms and be accompanied by health
certificates issued by the Mainland authorities to prove that they are
healthy; pigs have to go through ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection in
the slaughterhouses and only pigs which pass the inspection can be supplied
to the market for human consumption; all imported frozen and chilled pork
should be accompanied by health certificates by the health authorities of
the exporting place certifying that the pork had gone through inspection and
are safe for human consumption.
"In general, human swine flu virus is killed under a temperature of 70
degrees Celsius or above. Hence, it is safe for the public to eat pork and
pork products that were handled properly and cooked thoroughly. The Centre
for Food Safety has uploaded the relevant guidelines in its website."
Ends/Thursday, May 7, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:23
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