Press Releases
SFH's last day of visit in Beijing (with photos)
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, met with senior officials of
the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the State General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) in Beijing today (August 31) to
discuss issues of mutual concern.
These issues included Mainland live pig and live cattle supply to Hong Kong as
well as the recent measures taken by the Central People's Government to enhance
food safety.
Speaking after the meeting with the MoC, Dr Chow said, "The MoC has set out the
requirements, conditions and application procedure in the selection of the third
agent to import live pigs to Hong Kong. Details will be announced via internet
today."
Dr Chow learnt that the successful applicant should be a well-established
company based in Hong Kong with relevant sales experience and familiar with the
live pig market in Hong Kong. The selected applicant should also have the
ability to ensure a stable supply of live pigs. He called on interested Hong
Kong-funded companies to submit their applications as early as possible.
Interested parties may visit the website of the China Chamber of Commerce for
Import/Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products (http://www.agriffchina.com)
for application details.
On local pig farmers planning to invest in the operation of pig farms on the
Mainland, Dr Chow said the MoC and AQSIQ had agreed to assist farmers in setting
up pig farms and supplying live pigs to Hong Kong.
"With the support of AQSIQ and the assistance of the Guangdong Entry-Exit
Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (GDCIQ), Hong Kong farmers can attend a seminar
held by the GDCIQ on September 5 to learn more about the requirements of setting
up farms supplying live pigs to Hong Kong in Guangdong such as food safety,
bio-security and environmental requirements.
Dr Chow said local farmers might apply for quota from MoC to supply live pigs to
Hong Kong after they have set up pig farms on the Mainland.
He also discussed the recent unstable supply of live cattle to Hong Kong with
MoC officials. Both sides agreed that the problem was mainly due to the price
gap between Hong Kong and the Mainland in purchasing live cattle, which had made
farmers unwilling to sell cattle to Hong Kong.
"After close liaison with the MoC and Ng Fung Hong, with traders' consent, the
purchasing price has been raised. The agent is supplying more than 100 cattle
daily, which is close to normal level.
"Besides, live cattle only play a share of 18% in the beef market in Hong Kong.
Having considered these factors, there is no urgent need to add another agent.
Our top priority is to deal with the issues regarding the opening up of live pig
supply," he said.
In their meeting in the afternoon, Minister of AQSIQ, Mr Li Changjiang, briefed
Dr Chow on a series of new measures which would be taken to enhance the safety
of Mainland food products. They also exchanged views on the safety of food
supplying Hong Kong as well as the quarantine and inspection arrangement for
horses participating in the Olympic Equestrian Events next year.
"AQSIQ and local CIQs have stepped up measures to safeguard food safety for
supply to HK. Both sides will continue to work closely to further improve the
food safety regulation system," he said.
Regarding the impact of the Mainland's enhanced export measures on the supply of
live seafood to Hong Kong, Dr Chow had reflected to Mr Li the concerns of Hong
Kong traders about the measures. Mr Li said AQSIQ would immediately follow up
the matter with local CIQs to ensure that the trade would be facilitated when
implementing measures to enhance the safety of live seafood. The Centre for Food
Safety would continue to liaise with the relevant CIQs on the issue.
Earlier in the morning, Dr Chow paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Heath
and then met with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture in the afternoon. He
will return to Hong Kong tonight.
Ends/Friday, August 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:14
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