April 17, 2006

Hong Kong requires farmed fish from the Mainland to be documented

Hong Kong's Health, Welfare & Food Bureau has reached an agreement with the Mainland to impose tougher rules on freshwater fish exported to the territory.

Under the agreement, importers of freshwater fish from the Mainland must provide documentary proof that their fish came from registered fish farms and have valid health certificates when they are imported to Hong Kong, the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau said.

Importers who flout the rules would be referred to the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department.

The consignment would then be tested to ensure compliance with Hong Kong's public health requirements. If it contains malachite green, the consignment would be destroyed and the importers charged.

Details of the importers, including the vessels and farms exporting freshwater fish, would also be passed on to the Mainland Authorities.

Only registered fish farms approved by the Mainland Authorities would be allowed to export freshwater fish to Hong Kong.

Routine inspections have been conducted on these farms by the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department since September last year.

Meanwhile, the Customs & Excise Department has been alerted to ensure undocumented consignments of fish do not enter Hong Kong.