Hong Kong and Mainland China Finalize Dairy and Meat Export Agreements

The Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) of Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Trade and Industry Department, has finalized cooperation agreements with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) to enable the export of meat and dairy products from Hong Kong to the Mainland. These agreements were signed on May 19 and operational details have now been established.

Two briefing sessions were held on October 24 and October 30 to inform industry members about the application process and requirements for exporting these products. The sessions were attended by nearly 100 representatives from the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong.

The cooperation agreements outline the procedures necessary for registering as an overseas manufacturer of imported foods with the GACC, as well as obtaining recommendations from the CFS. The agreements also leverage the zero-tariff preferences provided under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Trade in Goods Agreement.

Both the CFS and GACC have made the application platforms available on their respective websites, enabling Hong Kong food enterprises to submit their applications. These platforms also provide detailed guidelines and address frequently asked questions from the industry.

Invest Hong Kong representatives were present at the sessions to address any questions from the trade, emphasizing the opportunities these agreements present for expanding into the Mainland market.