April 29, 2009

Hong Kong will not ban pork imports from Mexico and the US as there is little chance of being infected with swine flu by consuming the meat, according to Gabriel Leung, the Special Administrative Region's deputy food and health minister.

Leung said Hong Kong would not follow China in banning pork imports from Mexico, Texas, California and Kansas, all of which have been affected by the swine flu outbreak. Hong Kong imported 25,600 tonnes of chilled and frozen pork from the US last year but none from Mexico.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that people will not catch swine flu by consuming pork but they should fully cook the meat before eating, Leung added.

Cheng Hing, the general secretary of Hong Kong Frozen Meat and Seafood Wholesalers and Retailers Association, said Hong Kong import little quantities of US frozen pork and they will import even less pork from the US in light of the current situation.

Ng Fung Hong Limited, one of the three wholesalers of China's hogs, said it had already informed workers in its slaughterhouse to wear surgical masks and be alert while working. They are also required to clean the slaughterhouse thoroughly every day after work.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it would inspect all the 43 pig farms, which raise 5,600 pigs, in Hong Kong this week, and had asked them to take precautionary measures.

A department spokeswoman said the farms are required to report any irregularities found in pigs but no such report was received to date.