Hong Kong enhances checks on eggs from Europe

The food safety authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has enhanced inspections of eggs imported from Europe after high levels of insecticide were found in some imported eggs, the HKSAR's secretary for food and health said Saturday.

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is "very concerned about" the matter and has implemented measures to deal with problematic eggs, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan told the media.

Chan said the CFS took action after two egg samples imported from the Netherlands were found to contain excessive level of insecticides earlier this month.

The EU will call an emergency meeting of ministers over insecticide-tainted eggs. /AFP Photo

According to Chan, measures at both import and retail levels have been taken. "(At) the import level, they have increased surveillance and checked all the eggs from the respective countries that have problems, for example, Belgium, also Holland and all the rest."

Egg imports are stringently controlled and only those with recognized health certificates can be imported to Hong Kong, she added.

"As far as the retail level is concerned, they have also retracted the problematic eggs, as well as increased the surveillance on eggs, especially (those) coming from European countries," Chan said.

The CFS is in contact with egg wholesalers and retailers to discuss precaution measures to prevent the inflow of problematic eggs, she added.