Chicken egg sample imported from Vietnam found with pesticide fipronil exceeding legal limit
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (September 2) that the CFS is following up on a sample of chicken eggs imported from Vietnam that was found to containpesticidefipronil at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS has instructed the importer concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected product and to initiate a recall immediately. The trade is also urged to stop using or selling the affected product immediately.
Details of the product are as follows:
Product name: Chicken eggs
Place of origin: Vietnam
Importer: Rich Country Develop Limited
Farm in Vietnam: QL Farms (Tay Ninh) Liability Limited Company
Manufacture date: June 2026
"The CFS, under its routine Food Surveillance Programme, collected the above-mentioned chicken egg sample at the import level for testing of various pesticides. The test results showed that the sample contained fipronil at a level of 0.044 milligram per kilogram, exceeding the legal limit of 0.02mg per kg. The results of other pesticide tests were satisfactory. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be initiated," a spokesman for the CFS said.
The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity, and has immediately instructed it to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product and to initiate a recall. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer's hotline at 2765 8123 during office hours. An investigation by the CFS showed that the batch of chicken eggs was originated from QL Farms (Tay Ninh) Liability Limited Company, a farm in Vietnam, and the CFS has immediately suspended the relevant permission for the farm concerned to import chicken eggs. Furthermore, the CFS has taken a precautionary measure that all chicken eggs imported from Vietnam will be held for testing, and will only be released to the market for sale upon satisfactory test results.
Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide and acaricide. Any person who imports, manufactures or sells any food not in compliance with the requirements of the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM) concerning pesticide residues commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction. "Based on the level of pesticide residue detected in the abovementioned sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption," the spokesman added.
The CFS advises members of the public to obtain chicken eggs and egg products from reliable sources. The CFS is in contact with the Vietnamese authorities regarding the incident and will maintain close liaison with the trade. The CFS will continue to follow up, step up surveillance and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.
The CFS has been collecting fresh chicken egg samples at the import, wholesale and retail levels for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to ensure that food meets local legal requirements and is fit for human consumption. Between 2004 and August 2026, the CFS has collected more than 1 000 fresh chicken egg samples for chemical (including fipronil) testing. All samples passed the tests.
Source: AI-found images
