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From: TSS ()
Subject: Hong Kong bans imports from 2nd U.S. firm after bones found in beef
Date: April 7, 2006 at 8:22 am PST

April 07, 2006]

H.K. bans imports from 2nd U.S. firm after bones found in beef

(Kyodo News International (Tokyo) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Apr. 7--HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong government said Friday bones were found in beef imports from the United States on Thursday by the airport inspection office and it has banned further imports from the company concerned.Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. in Kansas State is the second U.S. beef exporter to be found shipping beef with bones intact to Hong Kong in a month. Beef imported to Hong Kong from Swift Beef Co. in Colorado was also found with bones and a ban was imposed on that company March 10.

A two-year ban, lifted Dec. 29 last year, was imposed on all U.S. beef imports following a case of mad cow disease in the state of Washington in 2003.

"So far, about 82 tons of U.S. beef have been imported to Hong Kong since the ban was lifted," a Food and Environmental Hygiene Department spokeswoman said Friday. "Of the 82 tons of beef, 6 tons were from Cargill." According to an agreed protocol with the U.S. government, only boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months old, with high-risk materials such as brain and spinal cord removed during slaughtering can be imported from designated plants.

Hong Kong imports more than $80 million worth of U.S. beef and beef products each year, 30 percent of the territory's total beef imports.

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/04/07/1550655.htm

www.chinaview.cn 2006-04-07 21:31:24

HONG KONG, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Friday suspended beef imports from a United States plant for its violating of the city's rules to fight mad cow disease, but having no intention to have a total ban on all U.S. beef.

The decision took effect immediately, said the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (HKSAR)

The move followed Thursday night's discovery of bones in beef imports from the Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation in Kansas, said a statement published at the website of the HKSAR government.

The Hong Kong authorities have no intention to re-impose a total ban on all beef imports from the U.S.

Hong Kong resumed beef imports from the U.S. starting from Dec. 29, 2005, under the condition that only boneless beef from cattle younger than 30 months can be imported.

Besides, high-risk materials such as brain and spinal cord of the cattle have to be removed during slaughtering and the beef could be imported from designated plants approved by the U.S. Enditem

Editor: Mo Hong'e

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-04/07/content_4397752.htm
TSS

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