G/SPS/N/HKG/49  
21 September 2023  
(23-6306) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  HONG KONG, CHINA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene 
Department, 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 should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  All aquatic products tha t are live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise 
preserved, sea salt and raw or processed seaweeds  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Ten metropolis/prefectures in Japan, namely 
Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and 
Saitama  
5. Title of the notified document:  Food Safety Ordinance (Chapter 612) (Section 30) - 
Variation of Food Safety Order . Language(s):  English and Chinese . Number of 
pages:  9 pages  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/HKG/23_12528_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Food Safety Order prohibits the import into and supply 
within Hong Kong all aquatic products originating from ten metropolis/prefectures in 
Japan, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata,  Nagano 
and Saitama, which are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after 
24 August 2023. These include all aquatic products that are live, chilled, frozen, dried or 
otherwise preserved, sea salt and raw or processed seaweeds. The order takes  effect from 
24 August 2023.  
7. 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.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Discharge of treated 
nuclear -contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, starting 
from 24 August 2023. Details are set out in the Food Safety Order.  G/SPS/N/HKG/49  
 
- 2 - 
 
  9. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/HKG/23_12528_00_x.pdf  
(available  in Chinese)  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
24 August 2023  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department  
Chief Health Inspector (Import/export)7  
43/F, Queensway G overnment Offices  
66 Queensway, Hong Kong  
Telephone: +(852) 2867 5530  
Email: fsc@fehd.gov.hk  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department  
Chief Health Inspector (Import/export)7  
43/F, Queensway Government Offices  
66 Queensway, Hong Kong  
Telephone: +(852) 2867 5530  
Email: fsc@fehd.gov.hk