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The Government announced today (Friday) that the sale of pig lung, liver and kidney would resume in Hong Kong tomorrow, September 12.

A government spokesman said that the sale of these offal had been voluntarily suspended since May this year after the detection of a Beta-agonist, Clenbuterol, in pig lung on sale in Hong Kong and of some clinical cases related to the consumption of tainted pig lungs.

The Government had since then worked out a comprehensive package to test for Beta-agonist in pork and pig offal to ensure that they are safe for consumption.

A new labelling and monitoring scheme for pigs had been introduced by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) from August 8 this year with the full co-operation of the Mainland Authorities, local traders and farmers.

"The Government is now satisfied that the measures taken will ensure the safety of pork and pig offal supplied to the Hong Kong market," the spokesman said.

"The sale of all pig offal will be allowed again from tomorrow."

The spokesman noted that the surveillance system conducted by the Department of Health (DH) had detected an unacceptable number of samples containing Beta-agonist during the initial period of the voluntary suspension.

As a result of enhanced publicity and education, together with co-operation from the trade, the percentage of tainted samples fell to less than five per cent in August.

"None of the samples tested in the last two weeks contained Beta-agonists," the spokesman said.

At the same time, the new labelling and monitoring scheme for pigs implemented by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) had been working smoothly.

The scheme involved the introduction of a pig tattoo system for tracking purposes as well as screening of pigs by urine testing in the abattoir prior to slaughter.

On mainland farms, the mainland counterparts had fully supported the work in Hong Kong by licensing all farms supplying Hong Kong, conducting regular testing of livestock prior to export and certifying that consignments of pigs were free from contaminants.

Local farmers had also co-operated by introducing the pig tattoo system and ensuring that the drug was not being fed to livestock. Throughput of livestock had been maintained throughout this period.

"This system had been effective in identifying and rejecting any suspected consignment of pigs, the spokesman said.

"Hence, it is appropriate to lift the voluntary suspension on the sale of pig lung, kidney and liver," he said.

The spokesman also pointed out that the surveillance system conducted by DH and the control scheme implemented by AFD would continue on a long term basis so as to safeguard public health.

He reminded farmers that possession of clenbuterol was an offence and advised traders not to sell pork and pig offal from unknown sources, adding that anyone undertaking such illegal activities would be prosecuted.

At the same time, he thanked all parties concerned for their co-operation in introducing all the measures to safeguard public health.

End/Friday, September 11, 1998

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