Purpose

In 2014 and 2015, there were outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in Europe, the American continents and different parts of Asia. Such outbreaks are expected to occur from time to time. The World Organization for Animal Health has recommended that an international veterinary certificate should accompany the import of eggs for human consumption for control of AI. Such import requirement is in place in many jurisdictions including the European Union, the United States of America and Singapore.

  1. With an aim to better protect Hong Kong from the threat of AI, the Government has amended the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations, Cap. 132AK to strengthen the control of the imported eggs. 

Statutory Requirements for Import of Eggs

  1. When the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations, Cap. 132AK, (the Regulations) came into operation on 5 December 2015, no person shall import eggs into Hong Kong unless they produce a health certificate issued by an issuing entity from the place of origin recognized by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (DFEH) to certify that the eggs are fit for human consumption; and obtain a permission in writing from a health officer of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) by providing information required by the Regulations. Fully cooked eggs and eggs that constitute one of the ingredients of any compounded food item are however excluded by the Regulations.

Application for Permission in writing for Import of Eggs

  1. The import of eggs requires permission in writing under the Regulation.
  2. Egg means an egg of a bird belonging to a type of bird sold or offered for sale for human consumption or any edible part of such an egg —      
    1. whether such an egg or edible part—
      1. is shelled or unshelled;
      2. is raw or partially cooked;
      3. is salted, preserved or otherwise processed;
      4. is in frozen, liquid or dried form; or
      5. contains any functional ingredient; but
    2. excludes such an egg or edible part that—
      1. is fully cooked; or
      2. constitutes one of the ingredients of any compounded food.

Application Procedure

  1. In making an application for approval, importers should provide the health officer with the following information:
    1. the type and quantity of the eggs to be imported;
    2. the Country/Place and State/Province/Prefecture/County of the eggs;
    3. any other information the officer considers essential to enable the officer to trace the eggs imported.
      1. Online Application
        • Trader who have opened user accounts in the Food Trader Portal (FTP) may submit applications for import permission online round-the-clock at FTP website: www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk. Upon approval, the import permission will be sent to the applicant's FTP account.
        • Once your FTP account is linked up to your Trade Single Window (TSW) account, you can receive a one-time password via the mobile phone number registered in your FTP account to access FTP through Trade Single Window (https://www3.tradesinglewindow.hk/portal/en/index.html) for submitting applications for Import Permission.
      2. Paper Mode Application
        Completed application form (Form No.: FEHB 295) should be submitted to the Food Import and Export Section of the CFS by post (43/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensways, Hong Kong) or by fax (2521 4784).
  2. The permission in writing will be posted to the applicant or be collected at the Food Import and Export Section of the CFS.
  3. No fee will be charged for application of permission for import of eggs.

Validity of Permission in writing

  1. The permission in writing is valid for six months from the date of issue. Application for Import Licence for import of eggs is not required.

Performance Pledge

  1. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is determined to provide quality service to the public, including importers, and pledges to process applications for the import of eggs within 5 working days.

Where to make applications or enquiries?

  1. Applications related to the import of eggs should be addressed to the Centre for Food Safety of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at 43/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong. For enquiries, please contact the Food Import and Export Section (Tel: 2867 5577) or 1823 Government Hotline.  Enquiries may also be sent to the e-mail address: fsc@fehd.gov.hk or by fax at 2521 4784.

Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department