Satisfactory dioxin test results for 33 more samples of German foods

Thirty-three more samples of imported German food products have passed dioxin tests, bringing the total to 66, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 31).

The latest batch of tested samples, made up of two samples of poultry and poultry products and 31 samples of pork and pork products, were collected at the import level. Since January 10, the CFS has been conducting dioxin tests on a total of 111 samples of German foods.

A CFS spokesman said,"Dioxin test results so far have confirmed that all the samples were satisfactory. In addition, since the incident was reported, the German authority has banned potentially contaminated farm products from export and from release to the market. They have also reaffirmed that the affected products have not been exported to Hong Kong."

He said, "In view of these developments, the CFS decided, with effect from tomorrow (February 1), to change its 'hold and examine' measure to conducting sample checks on incoming consignments of German eggs, poultry and poultry products as well as pork and pork products for testing of dioxins."

The CFS will continue to liaise with the German authorities and the European Commission, and monitor the situation closely, the spokesman added.

Ends/Monday, January 31, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:54