Browse Data and Analysis

Due to recent recalls by Hong Kong authorities of food products containing ethylene oxide (ETO), ATO Hong Kong reminds all U.S. exporters that ETO is not permitted in food products for sale in Hong Kong.

On August 13, the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) confirmed to ATO Hong Kong that effective February 14, 2025, the Special Autonomous Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will transition from a “systems-based” approach to recognizing foreign meat and poultry establishments to an “establishment or plant-based” registration system.

This report provides guidelines on Hong Kong’s food import regulations.

Hong Kong does not have any certification changes for food imports since the last report submitted in July 2023. This report lists the certificates required by the Hong Kong Government (HKG) for U.S. agricultural and food exports to Hong Kong. Certificate samples are included in the appendix.

The FAIRS Annual Country Report contains baseline information for Bangladesh as it relates to agricultural and food products. In addition to an overview of the Government of Bangladesh’s regulatory infrastructure on production and import control policies this report includes FAS/Dhaka’s assessment of laws and requirements for food and agricultural imports.

This report outlines the technical requirements and certificates for exporting food and agricultural products to Bangladesh. Post has made changes to Sections, I, II, and IV.

Hong Kong classifies ground meat as prohibited meat under its food legislation. Importers are required to secure a permit from Hong Kong authorities to allow the entry of U.S. meat shipments prior to arrival at Hong Kong’s port.

In 2023, the Hong Kong economy grew 3.2 percent year-on-year, slower than the government’s economic forecast. The economy has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels due to weak domestic consumption and lagging challenges in the import and export trade.

In 2023, U.S. exports of consumer-oriented products to Bangladesh were valued at $17.1 million, accounting for less than 1 percent of the market share of the $2 billion in consumer-oriented products Bangladesh imported.

A batch of U.S. frozen confectionary was almost rejected at Hong Kong’s port of entry due to an erroneously formatted health certificate.

On April 4, 2024, the Government of Bangladesh issued a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) allowing the bulk import of animal feed ingredients without labels; fixing an issue that was causing tariffs to be applied to shipments of feed ingredients when bulk containers did not have labels in them.

This report serves as a second reminder to U.S. exporters and traders that the Hong Kong Government (HKG) does not allow entry of U.S. poultry and egg products originating from affected counties reporting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) when the bill of lading falls on or after the effective date of a ban.