1. Definition & classification 

As per Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations:

• meat refers to the fresh or frozen carcass, flesh or other edible part including edible viscera and offal of an animal, being an animal kept in captivity before slaughter, from which beef, mutton, pork, veal or lamb is derived;

• game means the fresh or frozen carcass, flesh or other edible part, including edible viscera and offal, of an animal other than an animal from which meat is derived;

• poultry means (a) the fresh or frozen carcass of a domestic fowl, duck, goose, or turkey; (b) the fresh or frozen part of any such carcass other than the viscera; or (c) the fresh or frozen viscera of any bird mentioned or referred to in paragraph (a), being viscera that is edible.

2. Competent authority 

3. Market access approval 

3.1  Import license 

Hong Kong requires that the import of frozen or chilled beef, mutton, pork and poultry must be carried with import licenses from FEHD. For details, please refer to Guide to Application for Import Licence for Frozen Meat, Chilled Meat, Frozen Poultry and Chilled Poultry.

3.2  Importer/distributor registration 

Food importers, through close liaison with exporting countries, are responsible for ensuring that meat products comply with Hong Kong legislation. Any person who carries on food importation/distribution business shall register with FEHD as a food importer/food distributor. Detailed information can be found at Guide to the Registration Scheme for Food Importers and Food Distributors.

3.3  Health certificate 

Meat, poultry or eggs shall be imported with a health certificate issued by an issuing entity recognized by FEHD. A list of these issuing entities is at Appendix B of Guide to Import of Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs into Hong Kong.

If importers wish to import meat, poultry or eggs from a country/place where the issuing entity responsible for issuing health certificates is yet to be recognized by Hong Kong, they should ask the relevant issuing entity or government to apply to FEHD in writing and provide the following information related to its country:

• the animal disease situation;

• the legislation governing hygienic standards of meat, poultry or eggs;

• the location of processing plants and facilities for handling, processing, production, storage and transport of meat, poultry or eggs;

• details of inspection of meat or poultry in the ante and post-mortem process and qualifications of officers responsible for the inspection process;

• a sample of the official veterinary and health certificate; and

• the official name of the issuing entity responsible for issuing veterinary and health certificates.

In addition, prohibited meat may be imported to Hong Kong only after obtaining a prior approval from FEHD. Prohibited meat means any kind of meat specified in the Schedule "Prohibited Meat" of Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations. 

3.4  Inspection and quarantine 

Hong Kong requires all game, meat, poultry and eggs to be entered through Man Kam To checkpoint if the import is via land, or the International Airport of Hong Kong if the import is via air. At these checkpoints, the food concerned may be subject to inspection or sampling by FEHD.

If the import is via sea, the importers may be required to deliver the game, meat or poultry to the food inspection checkpoint at the ground floor of Kwai Chung Customhouse or kept at a licensed/registered cold storage for inspection or sampling. If the result is satisfactory, FEHD will issue a release letter to the importer. For the list of licensed cold storages, please refer to Guide to Application for Import Licence for Frozen Meat, Chilled Meat, Frozen Poultry and Chilled Poultry.

4. Product compliance 

4.1  Product requirements 

Imported meat products shall comply with the hygienic standards in Hong Kong.

4.2  Label 

The labeling of meat products shall comply with food labeling provisions stated in Cap. 132W Food and Drugs (Composition and Labeling) Regulations, and must be in either English or Chinese, or both. Nutrition labeling can be exempted for meat, marine and fresh water fish, and any other form of aquatic life commonly used for human consumption meeting the following conditions:

(a) in a raw state;

(b) packed in a container which contains no other ingredient;

(c) no other ingredient added.

For tenderized meat, every container shall be clearly and legibly marked with the words "TENDERIZED MEAT" in capital letters and the Chinese characters "加工制嫩肉类". If the tenderized meat is not packaged in a container, a label or ticket with the same clear and legible markings must be attached to the meat.

* Global Food Compliance Service

We provide various market entry services to help stakeholders better understand exporting requirements, establish business and secure a competitive place to facilitate trade development.

 Covered Countries

China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand etc.

Our Services

• Food Ingredient Review

• Label Review

• Product Registration

• Regulatory Consultation

• Monitoring, Training and customized report

Please feel free to contact us via food@chemlinked.com if you need any help.