G/SPS/N/HKG/47  
 
11 April 2022  
(22-2931) 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:  Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation 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):  Live hamsters for commercial purpose  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of Temporary Suspension on Commercial Imports 
of Live Hamsters into Hong Kong , China . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  1 
https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/quarantine/qua_ie/qua _ie_ipab/qua_ie_ipab_irrmpm/qua
_ie_ipab_irrmpm.html  
6. Description of content:  A number of human COVID -19 cases in Hong Kong, China were 
found to be linked to hamsters tested positive for SARS -CoV-2 virus. Epidemiological 
investigation as well as viral  sequencing suggest that hamsters, which were previously 
imported into Hong Kong , China , are the source of human infection. Commercial imports of 
live rodents and lagomorphs into Hong Kong , China  were temporarily suspended between 
18 January 2022 and 31 Ma rch 2022 for precautionary purpose. This emergency measure 
was adjusted from 1 April 2022 to cover only the temporary suspension of commercial 
imports of live hamsters.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[X] 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:  This emergency 
measure is necessary for protecting the public health of Hong Kong, China amidst the 
COVID -19 pandemic as set out in section 6.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? 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  G/SPS/N/HKG/47  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international st andard?  
[ ] 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://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140 -6736(22)00423 -8/fulltext   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as appl icable):  
1 April 2022 
[ ] 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:   
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department  
Import and Export Division  
5/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices  
303 Cheung Sha Wan Road  
Kowloon  
Hong Kong  
Fax: +(852) 2375 3563  
E-mail: icsenquiry@afcd.gov.h k 
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department  
Import and Export Division  
5/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices  
303 Cheung Sha Wan Road  
Kowloon  
Hong Kong  
Fax: +(852) 2375 3563  
E-mail: icsenquiry@afcd.gov.hk