The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (March 28) urged travellers not to bring into Hong Kong illegally any game, meat or poultry meat.
“To prevent an increase in the risk of an avian influenza outbreak brought by poultry meat which has not gone through inspection and quarantine, the FEHD and the Customs and Excise Department have stepped up enforcement action against travellers who bring poultry meat illegally into Hong Kong,” an FEHD spokesman said.
“From March 20 to 27, Customs officers at various control points intercepted a total of 51 travellers who were found to be bringing meat or poultry meat into Hong Kong illegally and handed them over to the FEHD for prosecution. About 230 kilogrammes of meat and poultry meat were seized and destroyed.”
Under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, it is an offence to bring any meat or poultry meat into Hong Kong without an official certificate. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.
The spokesman added that the FEHD had put up posters and pull-up displays and distributed leaflets at the control points to remind travellers not to bring into Hong Kong any meat or poultry meat without health certificates.
“The two departments will continue to take stringent enforcement action to safeguard food safety and public health. Anyone who has suspicions about illegal importation of meat should call FEHD's hotline on 2868 0000,” he spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, March 28, 2008