Hong Kong and Shenzhen sign co-operation agreement on inspection and quarantine arrangement at Qianhai

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau signed a co-operation agreement in Shenzhen today (April 27), under which frozen meat/poultry (frozen meat) imported to Hong Kong from overseas would be allowed to be stored temporarily in Qianhai Bonded Port Area of Shenzhen before its importation to Hong Kong in batches, so as to meet the business development and demand of the Hong Kong trade without compromising food safety.

The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Miss Vivian Lau, and the Director-General of the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Mr Zhao Zhenshuan, signed the co-operation agreement on behalf of the two sides. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, also attended the signing ceremony.

A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the FEHD and the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau reached the co-operation agreement after thorough discussions. The arrangement not only facilitates the business operation of the Hong Kong trade, but also leverages on the service functions of Qianhai Bonded Port Area to establish a regulatory mode of 'shop in front, warehouse at back' for transhipment of frozen meat, which in turn enhances the inspection and quarantine co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and creates a more convenient and efficient business environment for the Hong Kong trade."

According to the co-operation agreement, the Mainland authorities will implement inspection and quarantine of frozen meat in transhipment, including the monitoring of the facilities and temperatures of registered cold stores where frozen meat is stored, to ensure the hygiene and safety of such meat. Furthermore, according to the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap 132AK), every consignment of frozen meat, when being imported into Hong Kong after temporary storage, must be accompanied with a health certificate issued by an issuing entity from the place of origin recognised by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene and a transhipment certificate and deduction table issued by the Qianhai authorities. The importer is also required to obtain import licence from the FEHD.

The spokesman said the CFS will continue to maintain communication with the Mainland authorities, optimise the relevant procedures and strictly implement the co-operation agreement to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Wednesday, April 27, 2016