Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau says Hong Kong and Mainland authorities have stepped up food safety controls as a large number of live poultry and livestock will be imported to Hong Kong during the Lunar New Year period.

Festive food controls have also been enhanced, and importers and exporters have been told to strictly observe safety requirements.

Safety exchange

Mrs Yau today visited the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau and met its director Zhong Dechang to exchange views on food safety issues.

Since December, the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine has asked for further inspection and quarantine work on food and agricultural products supplied to Hong Kong during the festive period.

The Guangdong and Hong Kong sides will strengthen the gate-keeping role to ensure live chickens comply with inspection and quarantine requirements.

The Government will advance the Rest Day for poultry outlets to February 20 so cleaning can be done immediately after the festive period and cut the risk of avian influenza.

Mrs Yau also outlined the preliminary concept of the proposed new legislative framework on food safety, which includes the registration scheme for importers to outlaw imports from improper channels.

"Since food safety is closely linked with people's daily lives, we need to draw up a new piece of legislation to regulate imported food with a view to strengthening the traceability and clarifying the food safety standards," she said.

"We need assistance from Mainland authorities and co-operation of importers in Hong Kong to achieve this so people can consume imported food with confidence."