Purpose

The purpose of this guide is to provide general guidance for importers who wish to import game, meat and poultry into Hong Kong.

Statutory Requirements for Food Safety

2. In Hong Kong, the legal framework of food safety control is laid down in Part V of Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (PHMSO), Cap. 132 and its subsidiary legislation. A list of the subsidiary legislation is at Appendix A. The basic requirement, as stipulated in Section 54 of the Ordinance, is that no food intended for sale should be unfit for human consumption. Specifically, Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations (IGMPR) of the Ordinance stipulate requirements for import of such foods.

3. Importers can purchase the main Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation from the Publications Sales Unit at Room 402, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central. Importers may also browse the website (http://www.legislation.gov.hk/eng/home.htm) for the Hong Kong food legislation.

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

4. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is responsible for implementing territory-wide policies of food safety control and enforcing the food legislation. To this end, part of its duties is to exercise the power provided under Section 62(1) of PHMSO to collect food samples at points of entry to the territory for analyses, including bacteriological and chemical examinations.

5. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will pay the market price of any samples taken from importers. Due to difficulties in ascertaining the price at entry points, the Department will issue a sampling notice to importers when samples are collected. The notice will specify items and quantities of food samples which have been taken. Importers could send an invoice and a copy of the notice afterwards to the Department for payment.

Import Licence

6. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, Cap. 60, import of frozen or chilled beef, mutton, pork and poultry is subject to import licensing control. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is responsible for issuing import licences for these foods. For details, please refer to the "Guide to Application for Import Licence for Frozen Meat, Chilled Meat, Frozen Poultry and Chilled Poultry" issued by Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. 　

Importers

7. Food importers, through close liaison with exporting countries, are responsible for ensuring that game, meat and poultry they procure comply with the local legislation. To ensure hygienic standards of the foods, specific import procedures have been made for these foods as set out in paragraphs 8 to 12 below.

Import of Meat or Poultry

8. Regulation 4(1)(a) of IGMPR requires meat or poultry to be imported with an official certificate issued by a competent authority recognised by Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene. A list of these authorities is at Appendix B. If importers wish to import meat or poultry from a country where the authority responsible for issuing official certificates is yet to be recognised as a competent authority, they should ask the relevant authority or government to apply to Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in writing and provide the following information related to its country:

(a) the animal disease situation;
(b) the legislation governing hygienic standards of meat or poultry;
(c) the location of processing plants and facilities for handling, processing, production, storage and transport of meat or poultry;
(d) details of inspection of meat or poultry in the ante and post-mortem process and qualifications of officers responsible for the inspection process;
(e) a sample of the official veterinary and health certificate; and
(f) the official name of the authority responsible for issuing veterinary and health certificates.

9. The import of meat or poultry accompanied by an official certificate issued by a competent authority does not require prior approval of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

Import of Prohibited Meat or Game

10. Regulation 4(1)(b) of IGMPR requires prior approval of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department before the import of each consignment of prohibited meat or game. In making an application for approval, importers should write to the Department by providing similar information as set out in paragraphs 8 (a) to (f) but pertaining to prohibited meat or game obtained from the government of the country of origin.

Transhipment of meat or poultry

11. Regulation 4(3)(b) of IGMPR allows the Department to impose directions related to the import of game, meat and poultry. At present, importers should make an application in writing to the Department before each consignment of transhipped meat or poultry is imported. In making the application, the following information should be provided:

(a) an official certificate issued by a competent authority; and
(b) when meat or poultry is not conveyed in a sealed refrigerated container, a transhipment certificate issued by an authority having the power under the laws in force in the country of transit showing the meat or poultry was properly imported into that country and, during its stay there, did not suffer any spoilage or deterioration.

Arrival of Consignment

12. Under the power provided by Regulation 4(3)(b) of IGMPR, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department requires all game, meat and poultry to be entered through Man Kam To checkpoint if the import is via land, or the International Airport of Hong Kong if the import is via air. At these checkpoints, the food concerned may be subject to inspection or sampling by the Department. If the import is via sea, the importers may be required, if circumstances warrant, to keep the game, meat or poultry in a cold store for inspection or sampling before the food is released.

Performance Pledge

13. 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 game and prohibited meat and import of transhipped meat and poultry within 5 working days.

Where to make applications or enquiries?

14. Applications related to the import of game, meat and poultry and payment of samples 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 feel free to call the Department's Chief Health Inspector (Import/Export)2 at 2867 5531 or other staff at 2156 3040, 2156 3041, 2156 3042 of the Import Registration Unit or Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Hotline at 2868 0000.

* The word "chilled" in this Guide refers to the pre-chilling process of food with subsequent storage at a temperature between 0℃ and 4℃ .

Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department