Restriction
on the import of certain meat, meat products and
poultry
4(1)
Subject
to subsection (2), no person shall import-
(a)
meat
or poultry-
(i)
without
an official certificate; and
(ii)
where
it has been transhipped, subject to
subsection (5), without a transhipment
certificate; and
(b)
game
or prohibited meat, whether directly imported
or transhipped, otherwise than with the permission
in writing of a health officer and subject
to such conditions as he may impose.
4(2)
Meat
or poultry may be imported without an official certificate
subject to the permission in writing of a health
officer and to such conditions as he may impose.
4(3)
Where
a person imports game, meat, poultry or prohibited
meat under subsection (1) or (2) a health officer
may-
(a)
require
the person who imports such game, meat, poultry
or prohibited meat to submit it for inspection
by a health inspector on arrival; and
(b)
impose
such conditions or issue such directions with
regard to the imported game, meat, poultry
or prohibited meat as he may consider desirable
for the purpose of ensuring that it is sound,
wholesome or fit for human consumption.
4(4)
For
the purposes of this section, meat or poultry is
deemed to be transhipped if it is consigned to Hong
Kong from the country of origin but before being
imported into Hong Kong is unloaded in another country
and either-
(a)
returned
to the same vessel or aircraft or vehicle
from which it was unloaded; or
(b)
transferred
to another vessel or aircraft or vehicle before
being exported from that country, whether
it is transferred directly between such vessels
or aircraft or vehicles or whether it is stored
pending exportation.
4(5)
No transhipment certificate shall be required
in respect of meat or poultry imported into Hong
Kong in sealed refrigerated containers, where
the person who imports the meat or poultry establishes
to the satisfaction of a health officer that the
seals of the containers have remained intact and
have not been tampered with in any manner in the
course of their journey from the country of origin
to Hong Kong.
Procedure
for export, destruction or disposal of game, meat,
poultry or prohibited meat imported in contravention
of section 4
5(1)
If
upon the report of a health inspector who has examined
any game, meat, poultry or prohibited meat it appears
to a health officer that-
(a)
the
meat or poultry is being or has been imported
in contravention of section 4(1)(a) or (2);
or
(b)
the
official certificate or the transhipment certificate
accompanying the meat or poultry is incorrect
or does not apply to Hong Kong; or
(c)
although
accompanied by an official certificate and
a transhipment certificate, where such is
required, the meat or poultry is unfit for
human consumption, unsound or unwholesome;
or
(d)
game
or prohibited meat has been imported without
the permission of a health officer; or
(e)
any
condition imposed under section 4(1)(b) or
(2) has not been complied with; or
(f)
although
game, meat, poultry or prohibited meat has
been imported in accordance with section 4(1)(b)
or (2) as the case may be, any condition or
direction referred to in section 4(3) has
not been complied with or it is unfit for
human consumption, unsound or unwholesome,
the
health officer shall by notice in writing
addressed to the person in possession of the
imported game, meat, poultry or prohibited
meat direct that such person shall either
surrender such game, meat, poultry or prohibited
meat to the Authority or shall export it to
its country of origin, in which event the
person shall not part with possession of such
game, meat, poultry or prohibited meat until
it is exported.
5(2)
A
notice under subsection (1) shall state-
(a)
that
within the time specified in the notice, being
not less than 48 hours after the notice is
received, the person in possession of the
imported game, meat, poultry or prohibited
meat shall undertake in writing that, within
30 days from the date of the undertaking,
he will either surrender the game, meat, poultry
or prohibited meat to the Authority or export
the game, meat, poultry or prohibited meat
at his own expense; and
(b)
that
if the game, meat, poultry or prohibited meat
is surrendered or is not exported in accordance
with the undertaking, the game, meat, poultry
or prohibited meat may be destroyed or otherwise
disposed of by the Authority under section
59 of the Ordinance.
Prohibition
of re-import where notice given under section
5(1)
6
No
person shall import any game, meat, poultry or prohibited
meat, which to his knowledge has been exported from
Hong Kong pursuant to an undertaking given by any
person under section 5(2).
Last
review date: 08-10-2007