New pact: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow and Minister of the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine Li Changjiang sign the co-operation arrangement in Beijing.

Hong Kong and the Mainland have signed a new co-operation arrangement to enhance food safety, inspection and quarantine of live animals and plants, and hygiene inspection.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow and Minister of the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine Li Changjiang signed the document in Beijing today.

They agreed that Hong Kong can enhance the inspection, quarantine and supervision work at the source by making ad-hoc inspections to Mainland farms to ensure products supplied to Hong Kong are safe and hygienic.

Working together

They will develop a common procedure, methodology and standard of inspection and quarantine, including laboratory tests and analytical techniques.

They will also strengthen co-ordination in combating illegal imports and exports, as well as on major international issues relating to inspection and quarantine.

"When a major inspection and quarantine issue arises we can convene an urgent senior level meeting," Dr Chow said.

Regular meetings

According to the new arrangement, the Guangdong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureaux will liaise closely and collaborate with Hong Kong's Health, Food & Environmental Hygiene and Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Departments.

These will include regular meetings on the safety and hygiene of Mainland food destined for Hong Kong, irregular meetings and discussions on core business and entry-exit hygiene inspection.

Hong Kong and the Mainland also agreed to exchanges on laws, regulatory regimes, standards and management of inspection, quarantine and hygiene services.

When necessary, technical experts and management personnel will have technical exchange, field trips and visits regarding inspection and quarantine issues or other subjects.