Press Releases
Consensus reached on import of chilled beef from Mainland (with photos)
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, met the Minister of the
State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine (AQSIQ), Mr Zhi Shuping, in Beijing today (December 6) to
finalise arrangements for the import of chilled beef from the Mainland.
Dr Chow said that in order to increase the diversity of imported food and
respond to trade requests, the Food and Health Bureau began discussions with
the AQSIQ on the import of chilled beef from the Mainland some time ago.
After concerted efforts, the two parties have agreed on requirements for the
inspection and quarantine of chilled beef imports into Hong Kong, and are
now finalising the implementation details.
Dr Chow expressed his gratitude for the strong support and coordination of
the AQSIQ in facilitating beef imports from the Mainland. "The import of
chilled beef from the Mainland is conducive to stabilising the supply of
beef in Hong Kong, thus maintaining food prices at a reasonable and stable
level. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has completed its inspection of the
processing plant and cattle farm," he said.
"We have been communicating closely with the local trade through various
channels to better understand their operational needs. We also encourage the
trade to explore other food sources so as to increase food types and
maintain a stable food supply.
"I look forward to the arrival of the first batch of chilled beef from the
Mainland as soon as possible, thus providing the public with more reasonably
priced non-staple foods that also meet our food hygiene and safety
standards," Dr Chow added.
The Government strives to maintain the openness and competitiveness of the
local non-staple food market. To this end, the Food and Health Bureau has
been actively seeking to increase food sources so as to diversify food
types. These measures include promoting the consumption of chilled or frozen
meat. At present, chilled pork, chilled chicken and other chilled poultry
meat (including geese, duck and pigeon) is imported from the Mainland into
Hong Kong.
Dr Chow is conducting a three-day visit to the Mainland. Tomorrow (December
7) he will visit a chilled beef processing plant and a cattle farm at
Changchun City in Jilin Province.
Ends/Monday, December 6, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:07
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