September 1, 2020

Hong Kong ends suspension on chicken imports from Brazilian plant

Hong Kong has ended a temporary suspension on chicken imports from a plant operated by Brazil's Central Cooperativa Aurora.

The move happened as tests conducted on meat produced at  Aurora were found not to be contaminated by the COVID-19 coronavirus.

According to a statement from Brazilian meat industry lobby ABPA, the ban was lifted on August 28 by Hong Kong's food safety and health authorities after the Brazilian government assured that the products are safe.

Aurora confirmed the lifting of the ban, which concerned its chicken plant in the town of Xaxim, state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil.

Hong Kong suspended chicken imports from that Aurora facility on August 17. The move was announced after the Chinese city of Shenzhen detected the virus' genetic material on chicken wings and packages originated there.

The discovery led Aurora, Brazil's third largest chicken and poultry producer, to voluntarily suspend poultry exports to China from that plant. The self-imposed ban remains in place, an Aurora spokesman said.

- Reuters