Purpose
The purpose of this guide is to provide general guidance for importers who wish to import eggs into Hong Kong.
Statutory Requirements
2. With the amended Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations, Cap. 132AK (the Regulations) having come into operation on 5 December 2015, no person shall import eggs into Hong Kong unless they produce a health certificate issued by an issuing entity from the place of origin recognised by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (DFEH) to certify that the eggs are fit for human consumption; and obtain permission in writing from this Department by providing information required by the Regulations. Fully cooked eggs and eggs that constitute one of the ingredients of any compounded food are however excluded by the Regulations.
Application for Import Permission
3. The import of eggs requires permission in writing under the Regulations.
4. Egg means an egg of a bird belonging to a type of bird sold or offered for sale for human consumption or any edible part of such an egg—
- whether such an egg or edible part—
- is shelled or unshelled;
- is raw or partially cooked;
- is salted, preserved or otherwise processed;
- is in frozen, liquid or dried form; or
- contains any functional ingredient; but
- excludes such an egg or edible part that—
- is fully cooked; or
- constitutes one of the ingredients of any compounded food.
Submission of Applications
5. In making applications for import permission, importers should provide this Department with the following information:
- the type and quantity of the eggs to be imported; and
- the originating country/place and state/province/prefecture/county of the eggs.
6. Applications for import permission can be made in the following ways:
(a) Online Application
- Importers who have opened user accounts on the Food Trader Portal (FTP) may submit applications for import permission on the FTP website (www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk); or
- Importers who have linked up their user accounts with the Trade Single Window https://www3.tradesinglewindow.hk/portal/en/index.html (TSW) and the FTP may access the FTP via the TSW to submit applications for import permission.
(b) Paper Mode Applications
- Importers should complete an appropriate application form (Form No.: FEHB 295) and submit the form to the Food Import and Export Section of the Centre for Food Safety by post (Address: 43/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong) or by fax (No.: 2521 4784).
Application Fee
7. No fee will be charged for an application for import permission.
Validity of Import Permission
8. The import permission for eggs is valid for six months from the date of issue.
Application Processing Time
9. If all the required information provided by the applicant has met the application requirements, import permission may be granted within four working days.
Notes for Attention
10. Applicants should pay attention to the following:
- Eggs to be imported should not be derived from areas/establishments which are subject to food import suspension of poultry and poultry products, including eggs, imposed by this Department due to an outbreak of Avian Influenza;
- For information on import suspension of poultry and poultry products including eggs from Avian Influenza affected areas, please visit the CFS website and refer to press releases [https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/press.html] for details;
- For matters relating to import resumption, please go to “Imported Food Control → News for Importers and Trade” on the CFS website [https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/import/import_ifc.html]; and
- Traders who have opened user accounts on the FTP may check for the latest information on food import suspension on the FTP website (www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk).
Enquiries
11. For enquiries, please contact the Food Import and Export Section (Tel. no.: 2867 5577) of this Department during office hours. Enquiries may also be made to this Department by fax on 2521 4784 or e-mail to fsc@fehd.gov.hk.
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department