April 14, 2006

Swift hopes for a quick return to Hong Kong

Swift & Co, whose shipments to Hong Kong were suspended last month after bones were found in one of its shipments, said it aims to re-enter the Hong Kong market soon.

Swift & Company acknowledged the temporary suspension of beef products from its facility in Colorado on March 11, 2006, by the Hong Kong government and it is hopeful beef shipments to Hong Kong would soon resume.

The shipment which arrived in Hong Kong did not contain any specified risk material (SRM) and, therefore, did not present a food-safety issue but a minor quality issue, according to a statement from the company.

The company said it has asked the USDA to explain the issue to the Hong Kong government and is hoping that it could resume imports soon.

Hong Kong suspended imports from Cargill Meat Solutions last week, citing mad cow disease violations.

Hong Kong partially lifted a two-year ban on imports of US beef in December, allowing boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months old with the brain, spinal cord and other parts with high risks of mad cow disease removed.