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 US
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 United States.
Hong Kong resumed beef imports from the United States starting
from December 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 United
States.
(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2006)
