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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (December 6) announced that the relaxation of the import controls on beef from Canada would enter the third phase with immediate effect. Importation of meat cuts involving the vertebral column from cattle less than 30 months of age from Canada will be accepted, in addition to the beef products accepted under the first two phases.
"Each consignment of beef products must have the CFS's prior written permission and be accompanied by a health certificate," a CFS spokesman said.
Canada is now recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health as having a Controlled Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Risk status. In view of Canada's stringent BSE control measures, the CFS has been adopting a phased approach to resume importation of bone-in-beef early this year.
The first phase was implemented in March this year allowing only importation of beef rib cuts and other bone-in products (except vertebral column) from cattle less than 30 months old.
In the second phase, which started in late June, importation of boneless beef, beef rib cuts and other bone-in products (except vertebral column) from cattle of age 30 months or more, as well as tails and offal, were allowed, in addition to the products accepted under phase one.
Since the implementation of the first phase, about 930 tonnes of bone-in beef products have been imported from Canada.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and review our import requirements as and when necessary," the spokesman added.
The import of beef from Canada has been temporarily suspended since May 2003 after the detection of a case of BSE in Canada. The ban was partially lifted in November 2004. Only boneless beef cuts from cattle under 30 months old were accepted then.
Ends/Sunday, December 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:31
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