The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday that the external packaging of frozen spiny lobster (aka langouste and rock lobster) tails imported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tested positive for COVID-19, underlining that none of the problematic goods were sold in the local market.
According to the statement, the bureau activated its contingency plan by sealing and destroying four boxes of frozen spiny lobster tails weighing 40 kilogrammes after the COVID-19 nucleic acid test (NAT) turned out positive. Therefore, the goods did not enter the local market.
The statement noted that the surroundings of the temporary warehouse were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. At the same time, the data on people who had been in contact with the goods were handed over to the Health Bureau (SSM) for follow-up investigation, it added.
The statement underlined that for the time being the bureau has stopped authorising import applications for frozen spiny lobster tails.
In the first nine months of this year, similar products were also sampled and tested, and no abnormalities were found at that time, according to the statement.
The statement pointed out that the bureau has been asking business operators to step up the cleaning and disinfection of the outer packaging of imported food, while urging the public to wash their hands frequently after touching imported goods sold in supermarkets and other shops.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows a box of frozen spiny lobster tails in a plastic bag.
