The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (May 10) that it would release the Brazilian frozen and chilled meat and poultry recalled from local importers and distributors, following the Brazilian authorities' confirmation that the health certificates of the frozen and chilled meat and poultry exported to Hong Kong earlier did not involve any irregularities, and the satisfactory inspection and surveillance testing results of the products.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS passed the health certificates of the Brazilian frozen and chilled meat and poultry which were exported to Hong Kong earlier to the Brazilian authorities for verification. The Brazilian authorities have confirmed that the health certificates concerned did not involve any irregularities.

     "The CFS has enhanced surveillance of frozen and chilled meat and poultry from Brazil and taken samples at the import and retail levels (including the recalled batches) for testing of meat deterioration and others (e.g metallic contaminants, veterinary drug residues, pesticide residues, sorbic acid, nitrates, nitrites and foreign matters). As at today, a total of 251 samples were tested. The test results of all samples were satisfactory."

     In response to the incident on the quality of frozen and chilled meat and poultry exported from Brazil being questioned, the CFS, for the sake of prudence, temporarily suspended the import of frozen and chilled meat and poultry from Brazil on March 21. The Brazilian authorities later imposed a ban on exports from 21 plants under investigation. The CFS subsequently ordered a recall of all the frozen and chilled meat and poultry imported from the 21 plants as a precautionary measure. In view of the information further provided by the Brazilian authorities and its strict implementation of its food safety system at the export level, the CFS narrowed the scope of the import suspension to the 21 plants on March 28, which is still in force.

     The CFS will continue to maintain liaison with the Brazilian authorities and conduct surveillance on frozen and chilled meat and poultry from Brazil at the import and retail levels. The CFS will adjust its follow-up action in response to the latest development to ensure food safety.

Ends/Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:00

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