Press Releases

Legislative amendment for chilled beef, mutton or pork

The Government today (July 7) gazetted the Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2006 aiming to prohibit the sale of fresh and chilled beef, mutton or pork in the same fresh provision shop or market stall.

Under the Amendment Regulation, fresh provision shops and market stalls currently endorsed to sell the above two categories of meat will have to choose to sell either one or the other.

To maintain the existing level of convenience to consumers, the Government will, however, allow the sale of both fresh and chilled beef, mutton or pork in the same premises provided that the chilled products are pre-packaged and have been properly marked and labelled before distribution to the retail outlets. It would be an offence for any person to open or in any other way tamper with the package containing pre-packaged chilled beef, mutton or pork at the retail outlets.

A spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said the proposed arrangement would enhance food safety and protect consumers' interest.

"It can also help address the problem of unscrupulous meat traders mixing chilled and fresh products in the same premises and facilitate enforcement action by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department," the spokesman added.

Offenders of the Amendment Regulation will be subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months as well as a daily fine of $900, if applicable.

The Amendment Regulation will be tabled before the Legislative Council on July 12. To allow existing operators to make necessary arrangements, the Amendment Regulation will only take effect six weeks after gazettal.



Ends/Friday, July 7, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:01

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