CFS bans import of frozen and chilled meat and poultry meat from Brazil with immediate effect

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 21) that in view of the fact that the quality of the meat exported from Brazil is in question, for the sake of prudence, the CFS has temporarily suspended the import of frozen and chilled meat and poultry meat from Brazil with immediate effect.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately contacted the Brazilian authorities concerned and the investigation by the Brazilian authorities is ongoing. The Centre has therefore decided, as a precautionary measure, to temporarily suspend the import of frozen and chilled meat and poultry meat from Brazil. The CFS will continue to liaise with the relevant Brazilian authorities to obtain detailed information for further assessment. Furthermore, surveillance on meat and poultry meat from Brazil will be enhanced to safeguard food safety and public health."

The CFS has all along, under its routine food surveillance programme, taken food samples (including meat and poultry meat) at import, wholesale and retail levels for chemical and microbiological tests to ensure that they are in compliance with the legal requirements in Hong Kong and fit for human consumption. In the past three years, the CFS took 17 060 samples of meat and poultry meat for testing. Among them, there were 36 unsatisfactory samples, all of which were not related to the quality of Brazilian frozen and chilled meat or poultry meat.

The spokesman said, "The CFS has notified the Brazilian authorities concerned about the import ban. The local trade will also be alerted. The Centre advises the public to cook meat and poultry meat thoroughly before consumption."

The CFS will continue to closely monitor the case and take appropriate follow-up actions.

Ends/Tuesday, March 21, 2017