Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Poland, Korea, US and Canada suspended
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 3) that in view of notifications from the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in areas in Poland; and outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Korea, the United States (US) and Canada respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
The relevant areas are as follows:
Poland
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Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region
(1) Nowomiejski District
(2) Ostródzki District
Korea
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Gyeonggi-do Province
(3) Hwaseong-si
(4) Gimpo-si
Chungcheongnam-do Province
(5) Cheongyang-gun
US
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State of Ohio
(6) Darke County
Canada
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Province of Ontario
(7) Township of Zorra
(8) Township of South-West Oxford
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 3 480 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland; about 20 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 15.52 million poultry eggs from Korea; about 63 470 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 17.2 million poultry eggs from the US; and about 370 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Canada in the first nine months of last year.
"The CFS has contacted the Polish, Korean, American and Canadian authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Hong Kong Customs detects case involving possession of suspected "space oil drug" and suspected illicit cigarettes by incoming passenger at West Kowloon Station of XRL
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 4) detected one case involving possession of etomidate (the main ingredient of "space oil drug"), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations, and violation of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance by an incoming passenger at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). A total of one bottle of suspected "space oil drug" liquid and 189 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized.
A 27-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong via the West Kowloon Station of the XRL yesterday. During customs clearance, one bottle of suspected "space oil drug" and 189 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were found in his travel bag. He was subsequently arrested.
The arrested man has been charged with one count of possession of Part 1 Poison, one count of "possession of goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies" and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service. The case will be brought up at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 6).
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking or illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs detects case involving possession of suspected "space oil drug" and suspected illicit cigarettes by incoming passenger at West Kowloon Station of XRL Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects case involving possession of suspected "space oil drug" and suspected illicit cigarettes by incoming passenger at West Kowloon Station of XRL Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
