Prospects for increased exports of EU meat to Hong Kong have been given a boost following the reaching of a new agreement over certification requirements between EU’s farm commissioner, Phil Hogan, and Hong Kong’s Secretary for Food & Health, Gregory Ko.
Instead of insisting that meat must come from animals that were born, raised and slaughtered in the exporting EU Member State, Hong Kong is now prepared to accept that animals may come from any Member State that is eligible to export to Hong Kong.
“I am delighted that we have been able to resolve this long-standing trade impediment and that Hong Kong has found a way to recognise the effectiveness of traceability within the EU,” said Commissioner Hogan, who led a trade mission to Hong Kong last week.
“We remain committed to Hong Kong as an important trade and investment partner for the EU and are interested in cooperating more closely with Hong Kong as a hub for China’s mainland’s market.”
The EU added that with annual export volumes amounting to roughly €4 billion (£3.5bn), Hong Kong is a particularly important market for EU agri-food trade. The country, in fact, was the seventh most important export destination for EU producers in 2015, accounting for 3.5% of all EU agri-food exports around the world.
Commissioner Hogan, pictured above (left) with Minister Ko, visited Hong Kong as part of a three-stop trade mission which also took in Vietnam and Indonesia. UK meat producer interests during the mission were represented by AHDB.