Urine samples from local farm pigs found to contain veterinary drug residue

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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 10) announced that some urine samples taken from a batch of locally produced pigs for testing were suspected to contain veterinary drug residue of chloramphenicol, which is an antibiotic not permitted in food animals. Confirmation of test results from the Government Laboratory is pending.

     A spokesman for the CFS said that the batch of 19 pigs were from a local farm. Upon the CFS' learning of the test results, the pigs were isolated in the slaughterhouse according to established procedures, and they will be destroyed if the test results later confirm the detection of chloramphenicol. The spokesman stressed that in order to ensure food safety, urine testing is conducted on every batch of pigs sent for slaughtering at slaughterhouses, and no pigs will be slaughtered and released to the market for sale unless they have passed the veterinary drug residues test.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has issued today an order to the pig farm concerned to suspend its supply of live pigs.

     According to the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues) Regulation (Cap 139N), chloramphenicol is one of the prohibited chemicals in food animals. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000.

     The CFS will continue to monitor food animals admitted to slaughterhouses and take samples for testing to ensure food safety.

     The CFS and the AFCD are closely following up on the case.

Ends/Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:35

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