Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ17: Food containing hormones
Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the
Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council
today (January 10):
Question:
It has been reported that it is a very common practice among farm operators to
use hormones to stimulate the growth of animals and plants. In this connection,
will the Government inform this Council:
(a) how the existing legislation regulates the permitted levels of hormones
contained in animals and plants on sale for food consumption; if there is no
such regulation over various types of hormones used for the above purpose, of
the reasons for that, and whether it will legislate in this regard; if it will
legislate, of the details;
(b) whether the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has taken food
samples regularly to test the level of hormones contained therein; if so, of the
number of samples taken in the past three years and, among such samples, the
number of those found to have contained hormones as well as the relevant
details; if not, whether FEHD will include hormones as an item for chemical
tests under the Food Surveillance Programme; and
(c) whether it has conducted any research on whether consumption of foods with
excessive hormones may lead to early maturity in children; if so, of the
research findings; if not, whether such research will be conducted and, if so,
of the research timetable?
Reply:
Madam President:
(a) The current Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap 132, sub leg. AF)
provides that no person shall sell or consign or deliver for sale for human
consumption, any fish (excluding live fish other than shell fish), meat (flesh
or other edible parts of animals and poultry intended for human consumption) or
milk which contains any of the following hormones for human consumption:
* Dienoestrol
* Diethylstilboestrol
* Hexoestrol
(including salts and esters thereof)
Any person who breaches any of the above requirements is liable to a fine of
$50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Furthermore, the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues)
Regulation (Cap 139, sub leg. N) provides that any food animal farmer who keeps
any food animal (including animals and poultry) that contains the
above-mentioned hormones, unless administered in accordance with the
prescription of a registered veterinary surgeon, commits an offence. In
addition, any food animal trader who knowingly keeps any food animal that
contains the above-mentioned hormones also commits an offence. Any person who
breaches any of the above provisions is liable to a fine of $100,000.
There is no specific provision in law prescribing standards for hormones used on
food plants. Neither has the international community set any comprehensive
standard for hormones used on food plants. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) will
continue to monitor the food safety of plants in accordance with the risk
analysis principles. Moreover, the Pesticides Ordinance (Cap 133) provides that
the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is responsible for
controlling the manufacture, import, supply, packaging and retail of pesticides.
Under the Ordinance, hormones used on plants are already included as "plant
growth regulator" in the definition of pesticides. At present, there are 11
plant growth regulators registered in Hong Kong. They are mostly used in
agricultural production to regulate and stimulate the growth of plants and make
the plants less prone to diseases. Under normal circumstances, these plant
growth regulators, when used as directed on the labels, would not cause harm to
humans, animals or the environment.
We will closely monitor relevant developments in international standards and
consider the need to extend the current scope of regulation.
(b) Under its regular Food Surveillance Programme, the CFS takes food samples
for hormone testing at the import, wholesale and retail levels. Between January
2003 and June 2006, the CFS took a total of about 700 food samples (including
meat, fish products, shell fish products, milk and milk products) to test for
hormones. All the test results were satisfactory.
(c) The Department of Health (DH) has not conducted any study on precocious
puberty among Hong Kong children in relation to consumption of food with
excessive hormones. DH does not have any plan for such a study. However, the
Student Health Service of DH regularly conducts physical checks and puberty
development assessments for students between the age of six and 19. Over the
past three years, about 0.2% students were found in each academic year to have
shown signs of precocious puberty and needed to be referred to Hospital
Authority for follow-up. Most of these cases are related to inheritance. At
present, there is no evidence suggesting that precocious puberty in the children
of Hong Kong is related to hormones in food.
Ends/Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:30
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