Replies to LegCo questions

Legislative Council Question No. 8 (Written Reply)

Date of Sitting: 13 December 2000

Asked by: Hon NG Ching-fai

Replied by: Secretary for Health and Welfare

Question :

A test report published by the Consumer Council last month reveals that of the 14 health food products containing ginkgo biloba leave extract available for sale in Hong Kong, none could meet the relevant standards prescribed by the World Health Organization in terms of its composition.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the follow-up actions it has taken in respect of the above report; and

(b) whether it plans to enact legislation to regulate the composition of health food products; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply :

Madam President,

(a) At present, the Department of Health conducts random tests on the Chinese herbs sold in Hong Kong, including Folium Gingko, to ensure that they are safe for human consumption.  The Government is taking action to follow up the test findings published by the Consumer Council on those food products containing Folium Gingko.

(b) Folium Gingko is classified as Chinese medicine under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap.549) (the Ordinance), which has yet to be fully implemented.  Subsidiary legislation to implement controls over the manufacture and sale of Chinese medicines, including the registration of products containing Chinese medicine, are being prepared and will be introduced into the Legislative Council next year.  Under the Ordinance, the registration authority will take into account the safety, quality and efficacy of the medicines when considering their application for registration. 

As regards food products in general, the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap.132) stipulates that the manufacturers and sellers of food must ensure that their products are fit for human consumption.  In the light of the many health claims being advertised by different food products, the Health and Welfare Bureau is planning to conduct a study in 2001 on the feasibility of developing a statutory framework to monitor and regulate health claims.