- Even if AI occurs in some areas, HK government will designate as areas banned on export for the city and the province that AI has occurred
SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Kong authorities have approved localization of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (AI) in Korea. Even if a highly pathogenic AI occurs in Korea, products manufactured in areas, beyond the reach of AI (cities and provinces), will be permitted to be exported. Eggboard, the Committee for the Management of Eggs in South Korea, plays particularly large role in relation to this export.
Professor Park Tae-Kyun, a research professor at Korea University, said, "In the past, when a highly pathogenic AI occurred on a farm in Korea, all fresh products, such as Korean eggs and chickens, were prohibited from importing. Authorities of Hong Kong recognized the localization, municipality, and province, where a particular AI-generated farm belongs to, and banned export of fresh products."
The export of fresh poultry products, such as Korean eggs, chickens, and duck meats, has been suspended from being exported to Hong Kong due to the highly pathogenic AI (avian influenza) in Korea in November 2016. Exporting those products became possible again on October 30, 2017.
Hong Kong and Korean quarantine authorities have completed the negotiations for resuming export of fresh poultry products.
All 55 Korean export workshops that have already been registered by the Hong Kong authorities, are allowed to export. The export quarantine certificate form, signed by the two countries, can be used for exporting.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Korea requested the resumption of imports to Hong Kong authorities on October 13, when South Korea recovered its AI-clean status. On October 30, The Hong Kong authorities informed the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong that restrictions on imports of Korean fresh poultry products are lifted.
In 2013, when Korea was an AI-clean country, it exported about $11 million-worth of fresh poultry products such as eggs, chickens and duck meats to Hong Kong.
Nam Ki-hoon, Chairman of Egg Board in Korea, said, "Korean eggs exported to overseas are refrigerated and secured with HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control) certification."
"When buying Korean eggs from Mart, check the HACCP certification mark," Nam Ki-hoon recommended.
The HACCP certification is a food safety management system originally introduced in the United States to provide unpolluted & nothing-added foods for astronauts.
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