Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ12:Food safety standards

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 (January 16):

Question:

In view of the media reports about the detection of veterinary drug residues in canned pork by the authorities in Singapore, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has recently taken 19 samples of canned pork products for testing and found a trace amount of nitrofuran metabolite in two of them. Moreover, the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has detected the presence of potassium bromate in a potato chip product, which is available for sale in Hong Kong, but the local agent concerned has not recalled the product. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the criteria adopted for determining whether food products can contain a certain chemical substance;

(b) whether the sale of food products containing nitrofuran metabolite or potassium bromate at present constitutes a breach of the legislation; if not, whether the authorities will amend the legislation to prohibit the sale of food products containing such substances;

(c) whether it has approached the authorities in Singapore for the test results mentioned above; if so, whether it has examined why CFS has detected the presence of nitrofuran metabolite in two samples only; if it has not sought the test results, of the reasons for that; and

(d) given that the aforesaid agent has not voluntarily recalled the problem food product, and the legislation mandating food businesses to recall problem food has yet to be introduced, how the authorities currently assist the public in deciding whether or not to consume the problem food products they have bought?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The Government has been constantly reviewing the existing food safety standards to keep in line with international developments and to ensure that public health is sufficiently protected. In prescribing the standards related to substances in food, we endeavor to adopt as far as possible food standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). Codex was established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation and is the international standard-setting body in the area of food safety. Food standards set by Codex are based on comprehensive scientific studies, and represent the international consensus relating to food safety. As such, adoption of standards set by Codex is an effective means to protect public health and to facilitate food trading. Where there are no relevant Codex standards, references will be made to standards of other jurisdictions, in particular places that are major exporters of food to Hong Kong.

In establishing food safety standards for Hong Kong, apart from making references to the standards set by Codex, we will also take into account the local situation. The Government will conduct risk assessment studies to scientifically evaluate the possible adverse impact to health caused by different substances. Factors including the safety of the substances, whether they are needed in the food production process and their function in food, will be taken into account as the scientific basis for the setting of food standards. In addition, the Government will consult local experts and stakeholders in the course of developing food safety standards.

(b) According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap.132AF), two types of nitrofurans, namely furaltadone and furazolidone, are not allowed in pork and poultry. The existing legislation does not specifically prohibit the presence of nitrofuran metabolite or potassium bromate in food. However, under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap.132), food sold on the market must be fit for human consumption.

At present, we are contemplating introducing amendments to existing legislation related to veterinary drug residues in food, including regulation of nitrofuran and its metabolites, with a view to developing a more comprehensive set of food safety standards.

For potassium bromate, the Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations/World Health Organisation Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) holds the view that its use in flour treatment is inappropriate. In the past, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has taken food samples to test the presence of potassium bromate and cautioned the trade against its use. The FEHD had issued warnings to and successfully prosecuted traders whose flour products had been detected with potassium bromate.

(c) In response to media reports about veterinary drug residues detected in some brands of canned pork products in Singapore, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) had made enquiries to the authority in Singapore and noted that three brands of pork luncheon meat were found to contain nitrofuran metabolite. The CFS immediately collected a total of 19 samples of canned pork products of the relevant brands from the local market for testing and released the test results. The results showed that two samples contained nitrofuran metabolite while one contained malachite green. The detected levels of nitrofuran metabolite and malachite green were low, and would not have an adverse health concern under normal consumption. As a precautionary measure, the relevant sole agent had initiated a recall and suspended the sale of the food product on the advice of the CFS.

(d) The CFS conducts daily surveillance on food incidents happening in various places of the world and assesses their impact on Hong Kong. In case Hong Kong would likely be affected, the CFS will disseminate relevant detailed information in the form of press briefings, press releases and food alerts through public broadcasting and internet, to enable the public to take prompt and appropriate measures so as to minimise the relevant risks and to avoid unnecessary panic. In parallel, the CFS will immediately notify the trade to take appropriate actions. Generally, the trade is willing to cooperate, for instance by suspending the sale or initiating a recall of the food products. Under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, officers of the FEHD are empowered to seize and remove any food that is deemed unfit for human consumption or which contravened relevant food safety regulations.

Furthermore, the CFS has an electronic alert system in place to disseminate relevant information to over 1,500 medical practitioners and some 700 members of the food trade who have enrolled in the system. The CFS will also provide an in-depth analysis on these food incidents in layman's language through its periodicals (e.g. Food Safety Focus and Food Safety Bulletin) to enable the public to have a better understanding of food safety issues.

The CFS attaches importance to regular communication with the public. The CFS strives to enhance public understanding of food safety through various communication channels, such as television programmes, radio broadcasting, seminars, roving exhibitions and the CFS's website. The Consumer Liaison Group under the CFS was set up to gather public views on issues of food safety and improve communication with the public. Through these activities, the CFS aims to effectively enhance public understanding of food safety and the risks involved in different types of food.



Ends/Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:01

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