CFS resumes normal surveillance of German foods for testing of dioxins

A total of 134 samples of imported German food products, which were collected in view of the prior detection of dioxins in Germany in some eggs, poultry and pork produced there, have passed testing for dioxins, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 10).

The tested samples comprised six samples of eggs, seven samples of poultry and 121 samples of pork and pork products.

In addition, the European Commission has reaffirmed that German farm products exported to Hong Kong had not been contaminated by dioxins.

A CFS spokesman said, "The Member States of the European Union issued a joint statement following a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. The statement recognised that the contamination incident is fully under control by the German authorities and there is no risk that the affected food is placed on the market. The statement also said that the German authorities had taken strict and effective measures to ensure feed and food safety."

Having taken careful consideration, the spokesman said that the CFS had decided, with effect from today, to suspend its precautionary measure of conducting sampling on incoming consignments of German eggs, poultry, as well as pork and pork products.

The CFS would instead resume taking samples for testing of dioxins under its routine Food Surveillance Programme, he added.

Ends/Thursday, March 10, 2011
Issued at HKT 10:58