Food

Responsible Authority:

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

Ordinance(s)/Regulation(s) and Brief Description:

The basic food law in Hong Kong, China is laid down in Part V of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132). The main provisions cover general protection for food purchasers, offences in connection with sale of unfit food and adulterated food, composition and labelling of food, food hygiene, seizure and destruction of unfit food.

Conformity Assessment Mechanism:

Import control and pre-market licensing:

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department takes food samples at points of entry to Hong Kong, China for various kinds of tests. Import of game requires the prior permission of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and import of meat and poultry is confined to sources recognised by the Department. Certain food trades, including restaurants and bakeries, are required to obtain a licence before operation.

Post-market surveillance:

In addition to responding to incidents, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department conducts food surveillance and food labelling inspection.

Standards:

Domestic Standards Made	International/National Standards Accepted
Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2001	Adopts the Veterinary Drug Residues in Food - Maximum Residue Limits recommended by the Codex Alimentarius as the standards.
Sweeteners in Food Regulations (previously known as Food Adulteration (Artificial Sweeteners) Regulation)	The permitted list of sweeteners under the Sweeteners in Food Regulations was amended on 19 December 2003 to align it with Codex standard.
Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) Regulations 2004	Types of additives allowed to be added to condensed or evaporated milk, butter or cream and the requirement of labelling of additives under the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations were amended on 9 July 2004 and 6 December 2004 respectively to align with Codex standard.
Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2005	The permitted list of antioxidants under the Preservatives in Food Regulations was amended on 23 December 2005 to align it with Codex standard.