Infant formula exports to be curbed

February 22, 2013

Powdered infant formula, including milk and soya milk powder, is to be prohibited from export under an amendment gazetted today.
 
The Import & Export (General)(Amendment) Regulation 2013 would prohibit the export of powdered formula for infants and children under 36 months, including milk powder and soya milk powder, without a licence from the Director-General of Trade & Industry.
 
It aims to combat the problem of parallel traders diverting large quantities of powdered formula away from the supply chain in Hong Kong.
 
As some individuals leaving Hong Kong need powdered formula for personal use, the Government proposes each person 16 years of age or older be allowed to take up to 1.8 kilograms of powdered formula, up to two .9kg cans.
 
The age limit is to prevent children from being used to carry formula in parallel trading activities. The 1.8kg exemption should apply to a person on his or her first departure from Hong Kong within a 24-hour period.
 
Any person who contravenes the relevant provision would be guilty of an offence and if convicted, liable to a $500,000 fine and two years in prison.
 
The Trade & Industry Department would in general issue export licences only to formula importers who have registered under the Food Safety Ordinance or importers exempted under the Food Safety Ordinance from the registration requirement. Export licence applicants must submit import documents to prove the powdered formula concerned is directly imported from other places.
 
The amendment regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on February 27 for negative vetting, and is expected to commence on March 1.