Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ13: Bottled drinking water up to standards

Following is a question by the Hon. Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Stella Hung, in the Legislative Council meeting today (June 6):

Question :

Regarding the water quality of bottled natural mineral water and distilled water on sale in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council whether:

(a) it has stipulated the water quality such bottled water is required to meet standards; if so, how such standards compare with the international standards; if not, of the reasons for that;

(b) laboratory tests are conducted regularly on such bottled water; if so, of the results of such tests conducted in the past year, and how cases of substandard quality have been followed up; if not, how the Administration ensures that such bottled water is suitable for human consumption; and

(c) it knows the countries and regions which regularly conduct laboratory tests on the water quality of bottled water; whether the Administration has sought the relevant information from the organisations concerned for reference?

Answer :

(a) Both bottled natural mineral water and distilled water on sale in Hong Kong are food items subject to regulation under the "Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance" (Cap. 132). This Ordinance provides that all food items (including bottled drinking water) on sale must be suitable for human consumption. Subsidiary legislation under the Ordinance also provides specific standards in respect of the amount of artificial sweeteners, colouring materials, preservatives, mineral oils and heavy metals contained in food. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) conducts laboratory tests on bottled drinking water against the statutory standards. It also conducts laboratory tests on the level of micro-organism in bottled drinking water in accordance with the "Standard for Natural Mineral Waters" laid down by the Codex Alimentarius Commission under the United Nations and the "Guideline for Drinking-water Quality" of the World Health Organisation. The standards adopted in Hong Kong are similar to international standards.

(b) In 2000, FEHD conducted tests on 120 bottled natural mineral and distilled water samples. Results indicate that they have all met the required standards.

(c) At present, European and North American countries conduct tests on the water quality of bottled drinking water on a regular basis. Some of the countries publish their test results on web-pages and FEHD visits these web-pages regularly for reference and for studying the reports. In addition, FEHD has in place a notification system with the European Community and with the Food and Drug Administration of the United States. FEHD may ask for specific information whenever necessary.

Wednesday, June 6, 2001