Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ17: Food safety

Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (July 4):

Question:

With regard to food safety, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) given that the food safety legislation being drafted by the Government will not be introduced into this Council until the 2008-2009 session, whether the Government will formulate interim measures to step up efforts to curb the importation of aquatic products, vegetables and fruits which do not comply with the relevant mainland standards or which do not carry hygiene certifications issued by the relevant mainland authorities and, in the event of food safety incidents, to trace the sources of the food concerned more expeditiously; and

(b) given that the Government is drawing up legislation on regulation of pesticide levels in food, which will be both suitable for Hong Kong and in line with international standards, how the authorities will determine the relevant standards in respect of vegetables and fruits for which the Codex Alimentarius Commission has not prescribed the maximum residue limits of pesticides?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) While the Government is actively drawing up the food safety legislation, the current Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132) already provides for certain food safety control. Therefore, there is no lack of regulation on food safety prior to the enactment of the Bill.

Besides, the Government has strengthened cooperation with the Mainland authorities concerned through administrative measures to ensure the safety of food imported from the Mainland.

We also take samples for tests at border control points to ensure food safety.

At present, there is an agreement between Hong Kong and the Mainland that only registered farms approved by the Mainland authorities may export freshwater fish to Hong Kong. Vegetables supplied by the Mainland have to be sourced from registered farms or purchasing-cum-processing enterprises destined for export to Hong Kong. Vegetables can only be exported to Hong Kong after examination by the relevant Mainland entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureaux. Upon discovery of any freshwater fish or vegetables imported from the Mainland that are without health certificates, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department would detain the food consignment and take samples for testing. The department would also notify the Mainland authorities for follow-up action.

After discussion between the SAR Government and the Mainland authorities, the Mainland has started to implement a series of measures by phases to enhance inspection and quarantine arrangements for vegetables since April 2007. These include requiring proper packaging for leafy vegetables supplied to Hong Kong which are marked with the name and address of the planting farms, registration number and manufacturing date. Mainland inspection and quarantine authorities will supervise the packaging process and seal the consignments for transporting to Hong Kong. The requirement will be extended to cover all vegetables (including non-leafy vegetables) supplied to Hong Kong from October this year. As regards fruits, we will continue to discuss with the Mainland authorities on measures to enhance their safety.

For measures on tracing the source of food, operators of certain high-risk food businesses, such as fresh and frozen (chilled) meat retailers, are required under existing licensing requirements/conditions to keep records to certify that their meat comes from legitimate sources and to facilitate tracing of food origin. We will consider extending the requirement to other kinds of food having regard to actual circumstances.

In view of growing public awareness and concern over food safety in recent years, we are planning to establish a food supply traceability system through introducing a food importer notification scheme and requiring food traders to keep records on sources of their stocks. This will facilitate the food safety authority to trace problem food in case of food incidents and thereby minimising their impacts. Before the statutory scheme comes into effect, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) will implement a voluntary notification scheme for importers by phases later this year. The scheme is modelled on the voluntary enrolment scheme for poultry egg importers implemented by end of last year to identify and trace the source and distribution of foods, which can help the CFS disseminate information to the public and the trade in case of food incidents. This voluntary notification scheme will be extended to cover various food types by phases, including meat, vegetables and fruits as well as farmed aquatic products.

Besides, the CFS has maintained close liaison with the Consuls-General in Hong Kong/liaison offices of major exporting countries, Mainland entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureaux, and major local importers/wholesalers/retailers. In case of food incident, the CFS would make immediate enquiries with the parties concerned and take follow-up actions.

(b) The Administration and the Expert Committee on Food Safety have set up a working group to study the regulation of pesticide residues in food. Their preliminary view is that in setting local standards for pesticide residues in food, reference should be made as far as possible to the standards prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (the Codex) which is applicable to the international community. Where there is no Codex standard for a particular type of pesticide residue in food, the working group will refer to the standards of our major food suppliers. The Administration will strive to finish the legislative proposals by October this year for submission to the Legislative Council.


Ends/Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:30

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