Hong Kong (HK)

Certification alert: HPAI related market access and certification impacts

Australia regained freedom from High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) as of 13 June 2025 and information is available on the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) website.

The department is working closely with industry and trading partners to re-establish trade to affected markets where trade is not already restored. Despite the return of Australia’s HPAI freedom status, export certification for some poultry and ratite meat, meat products, rendered meals, pet food, eggs and egg products may continue be affected for Australian product while trading partners undertake their own risk assessment processes.

The Department will issue regular Market Access Advices (MAAs) to advise exporters of relevant trade developments and the status of export certification. Exporters are advised to refer to the latest MAAs for the most up-to-date information. MAAs can be viewed on the department’s website here: Egg export industry notices - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au).

The MAAs include an Attachment which shows countries and products affected. The Attachment specifically states which export health certificate templates for egg and egg products have been affected. Exporters should ensure they are reviewing the most up to date MAA and attachment with current market access information.

Markets that are not listed in the Attachment to the MAA should not have certification affected. The department recommends that all exporters of egg and egg products work closely with their importers to ensure any exported product will be accepted at border clearance.

For all enquiries, please email exportstandards@aff.gov.au.

Exporters are reminded that it is an offence to provide false or misleading information to the Australian Government.

1.1 Establishment registration

Establishments are required to be export registered to export eggs from Australia to Hong Kong.

Exceptions to establishment list and overseas registration

Preparation of goods at an export registered establishment and an export permit is not required if you are exporting the following, as these goods are not prescribed under the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021;

(a) eggs from a species other than Gallus gallus;
(b) egg products derived from eggs from a species other than Gallus gallus;
(c) eggs or egg products that are animal food or pharmaceutical material;
(d) liquid egg products exported in a consignment of not more than 10 litres;
(e) eggs or egg products not covered by paragraphs (a) to (d) exported in a consignment of not more than 10 kilograms;
(f) egg products in the form of a tablet or capsule;
(g) eggs or egg products for export to New Zealand.

Note: However, if Hong Kong requires a government certificate for the entry of the above goods, a certificate can be issued by the department – provided that the goods have been prepared in an export registered establishment.

1.2 Overseas listing

Establishments are not required to be establishment listed to export eggs from Australia to Hong Kong.

Initial listing procedure	Required?
Export registration with the department	Yes
Establishment listing required for Hong Kong	No

1.3 General information

An import permit is required for eggs exported from Australia to Hong Kong.

The validity of the permit is subject to change as determined by Hong Kong.

2.1 Operational requirements additional to Australia’s export legislation

Hong Kong’s Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations set out requirements for import of poultry meat. The regulations are being amended to include egg and egg products.

2.2 Microbial and residue sampling and maximum acceptable limits

Hong Kong has no known additional requirements for microbial sampling of egg and egg products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Egg and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

Hong Kong residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in Hong Kong or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Hong Kong and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Hong Kong standards and the Australian standards.
Any detection of a residue above the Hong Kong MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.

Note: Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

3.1 Cage, barn and free-range table eggs

Health certificate for eggs

For table eggs produced for human consumption, use Health Certificate template EX46EG with additional endorsement 3945.

EX46EG embedded endorsement

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are:
In sound condition
Fit for human consumption
Of Australian origin

Additional endorsement 3945

The egg or egg product describe above:
Were produced, sourced and processed in a state or territory free from Avian Influenza as defined in the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) Terrestrial Animal Health Code, or in a zone approved by Hong Kong as eligible for export
Were produced by healthy birds in an area where Newcastle Disease, Fowl Cholera and Fowl Pest are not prevalent and, in accordance within Australia’s National Residue Survey for egg and egg products, do not contain harmful levels of foreign substances or chemicals.

For information on how to lodge a Request for Export (REX) for eggs and eggs products, follow the link.

3.2 Egg products that are not heat-treated

Use Health Certificate template EX46EG with additional endorsement 3945 (as mentioned above in section 3.1for table eggs).

3.3 Egg products that are heat-treated

Use Health Certificate template EX46EG with additional endorsement 3945 (as mentioned above in section 3.1 for table eggs).

3.4 Manufacturing grade products

There is no agreed certification for import of manufacturing grade egg and egg products into Hong Kong.

3.5 Consignments under 10kg and trade samples

Hong Kong has no known requirements for consignments under 10 kg and trade samples that differ from those required in the Export Control (Egg and Egg Products) Rules 2021. Please contact your importer for more information before sending a consignment under or equal to 10 Kg.

4.1 Import permit

An import permit is required for eggs exported from Australia to Hong Kong.

4.2. Port of entry inspection and testing

Upon arrival, the consignment will be inspected by a health officer to have met all the import conditions laid out in the import permit and the imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations. Failure to comply may result in destruction or re-export of the consignments.

5.1 Packaging

In addition to specific requirements for packaging in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Egg and Egg Products) Rules 2021, visit the Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety website for labelling and packaging requirements.

5.2 Labelling

Nutritional claims: Not applicable
Dual Language: Not applicable

5.3 Shelf life

Hong Kong has no known specific requirements for shelf life restrictions in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

5.4 Use-by date

Hong Kong has no known specific requirements for use-by dates in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

5.5 Shipping marks

Hong Kong has no known specific requirements for shipping marks in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

6.1 Refrigeration, transfer and loadout

Egg and egg products must be transported to ensure their condition and integrity is maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Export Control (Egg and Egg Products) Rules 2021.

A transhipment certificate is required if the consignment of eggs were unloaded in a place outside of Hong Kong in the course of being transshipped. No transhipment certificate shall be required in respect of meat, poultry or eggs imported into Hong Kong in sealed refrigerated containers, where the person who imports the meat, poultry or eggs establishes to the satisfaction of a health officer that the seals of the containers have remained intact and have not been tampered with in any manner in the course of their journey from the place of origin to Hong Kong.

Please talk to your importer for detail clarity before exporting your products.

A transhipment certificate is required if the consignment of eggs were unloaded in a place outside of Hong Kong.

Please talk to your importer for detail clarity before exporting your products.

Transhipment certificate: in relation to meat, poultry or eggs that were unloaded in a place outside of Hong Kong in the course of being transhipped within the meaning of regulation 4(4), means a certificate:

Issued by an entity having power under the laws of that place
To examine articles of food; and
To certify as to their fitness for human consumption; and

Showing that the meat, poultry or eggs:

Were properly imported into that place; and
Did not suffer any spoilage or deterioration during their stay there.

31/05/2024 - Added High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza certification alert.
04/01/2024 - Updated information on NEXDOC certificates (section 3.1).
20/06/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 2.2).
09/05/2023 - Major review of all content.

Eggs