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Prospects for EU exports of meat to Hong Kong have been given a boost this week following an agreement between EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and Hong Kong Secretary for Food & Health Gregory Ko over certification requirements. Both sides have now agreed on measures to simplify certification requirements for Hong Kong imports of meat from the EU. Instead of insisting that meat must come from animals that were born, raised and slaughtered in the exporting Member State, Hong Kong is now prepared to accept that animals may come from any Member State that is eligible to export to Hong Kong. The agreement is a result of a long preparatory work conducted by the teams of Commissioners Hogan, Malmström and Andriukaitis.
Speaking after the visit, Commissioner Hogan said: "I am delighted that we have been able to resolve this long-standing trade impediment and that Hong Kong has found a way to recognise the effectiveness of traceability within the EU. We remain committed to Hong Kong as an important trade and investment partner for the EU and are interested in cooperating more closely with Hong Kong as a hub for China mainland's market."
With annual export volumes amounting to roughly 4 billion EURO, Hong Kong is a particularly important market for EU agri-food trade – the 7th most important export destination in 2015, accounting for 3.5% of all EU agri-food exports around the world.
Friday November 4, 2016/ EC/ European Union.
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture
