. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/HKG/4/Add.1
19 August 1999
(99-3497)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
Addendum
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  HONG KONG, CHINA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Health, the Government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable). Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Milk, dairy products and chocolate containing milk or dairy products from
Belgium.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Suspension of sales of Belgian
milk, dairy and chocolate products lifted (available in English, 1 page).
5. Description of content: The Department of Health has prohibited the sale of the following
products from Belgium:
- poultry, eggs, and their products and foods with more than two per cent egg 
products with effect from 3 June 1999;
- pork and pork products with effect from 4 June 1999;  and
- beef, beef products and dairy products with effect from 7 June 1999.
Information has recently been obtained that milk, dairy products and chocolate containing
milk or dairy products from Belgium and already in Hong Kong are not contaminated bydioxin;  and arrangements have been made for source certification and testing for
consignments of future stocks.  Accordingly, the Department of Health decided to lift the
prohibition of sale of these products with effect from 30 July 1999.  The sale prohibition of
other meat and animal products from Belgium remains in place.
6. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety,  [   ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection,
[  ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from other
damage from pests
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  To safeguard public health due to the suspected dioxin
contamination of meat and animal products from Belgium.G/SPS/N/HKG/4/Add.1
Page 2
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [   ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Dioxin is a class one carcinogen.  In 1998,
WHO set a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 1-4 picograms per kg. body weight per day.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Press release dated
30 July 1999 in English.
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):
Lifting of the prohibition of sale of milk, dairy products, and chocolate containing milk or
dairy products took effect on 30 July 1999.
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[  ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point or address, fax number
and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Enquiry Point:
Trade Department
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
17/F, Trade Department Tower700 Nathan Road, Hong Kong
Tel:  (852) 2398 5398
Fax:  (852) 2789 2491
E-mail:  tdtom@netvigator.com