Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ11: Food safety of eggs for human consumption

        Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (February 25):

 

Question:

 

        Regarding the food safety of eggs for human consumption, will the Government inform this Council:

 

(a)    whether existing legislation has set out the hygiene standards to be met by such eggs when they are imported and put up for sale; if so, of the details of the provisions; if not, the reasons for that;

 

(b)    whether it conducts laboratory sample tests on the bacterial contents of imported eggs (including the surface of the egg shells); if so, of the number of eggs tested each year, and the number of samples which have been found to contain the H5N1 avian influenza virus so far this year; if not, the reasons for that; and

 

(c)    given that it has imposed import control on meat and poultry, which requires an importer to obtain official certificates issued by the competent authority of the country of origin before importing meat or poultry, why it has not imposed the same control on eggs for human consumption; whether it will consider imposing import control on such eggs; if it will, of the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

 

Reply:

 

(a)    Currently, there is no specific legislation governing the import of eggs because they are not considered as a high risk food item when compared with others such as game meat, dairy products, etc.  However, the sale of eggs in the local market has to comply with the relevant provisions of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) and its subsidiary legislation that they are hygienic and safe for human consumption.

 

(b)    The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department tested 348 egg samples for bacteria from 2000 to 2003.  All test results are found satisfactory.  According to the World Health Organisation, there is no epidemiological information to suggest that H5N1 avian influenza has been transmitted to human by eggs and egg products.  As the risk of eggs being infected by the H5N1 virus is very low, tests for this virus have not been included in the regular testing programme.  Nevertheless we will further study the potential risk, taking reference to research findings and understanding of the potential problem, and will consider conducting studies on the virus of H5N1 avian influenza in eggs in the context of the current outbreak.

 

(c)    The existing legislation does not require an importer to obtain official health certificates for the import of eggs as in the case of meat or poultry.  Nevertheless, the sale of eggs and egg products in Hong Kong is governed by the relevant food safety legislation.  We will consider if it is necessary to amend the relevant subsidiary legislation requiring health certificates to be issued by the competent authority of the place of origin.

 

Ends/Wednesday, February 25, 2004

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