Two senior health officials will depart for Beijing tomorrow following the discovery of malachite green in samples of imported freshwater fish today.
They will discuss with their Mainland counterparts food safety issues, particularly ways to enhance the safety of aquatic products for supply to Hong Kong.
Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow said that in the past two days, health authorities had tested 23 freshwater fish samples for malachite green.
Among them, four samples taken from local freshwater fish were negative for malachite green. But among 19 samples of imported freshwater fish, seven were found to have malachite green.
Dr Chow said the Government had immediately notified the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine, Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau and Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau of the test results.
They agreed to step up the inspection of freshwater fish immediately, he added.
Because of the possible community concern about the presence of malachite green in freshwater fish, an interdepartmental working group has decided to take more samples to assess the situation more accurately.
Meanwhile, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department said that among the available test results so far, 55 samples of eel and eel products were found to contain malachite green and seven samples tested negative.
Local measures aim to boost food safety
It will take follow-up action and the products in question will be disposed of.
The inter-departmental working group has decided to adopt the following measures locally to strengthen the control of imported freshwater fish:
* speed up the taking of samples for laboratory tests and announce the laboratory results as soon as possible;
* amend the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations under the Public Health & Municipal Services Ordinance to prohibit the use of malachite green in food;
* aim to gazette the amendment on Friday (August 26) and put it in force immediately thereafter; and
* meet with trade representatives to explain the latest situation to them.
Mainland measures
Meanwhile, local officials will continue to maintain close liaison with the relevant Mainland authorities to obtain the most up-to-date information; and Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Eddy Chan and Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene Gregory Leung will depart for Beijing tomorrow to discuss food safety issues with their Mainland counterparts.
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