Eggs will remain in short supply for some time, as mainland authorities step up tests for melamine, Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok has said.
The supply of mainland eggs was down about 70 per cent yesterday.
Dr Chow acknowledged there would be a temporary shortage and it was difficult to say for how long. 'The central authorities have indicated that they would like to ensure the food supply in Hong Kong is safe, particularly that egg supplies are melamine-free.'
He said suppliers had to be very careful to screen the source of eggs before they were imported to Hong Kong. 'This will be a temporary arrangement and certainly it will result in a temporary shortage as well.'
Mainland eggs come from different provinces and areas.
Dr Chow also said supplies from other countries had been increased.
At a meeting of the Legislative Council's health services panel, legislators pressed the government on its plans for better surveillance and food safety strategy as melamine was not detected by the normal process.