The proposed Food Safety Bill will boost food control without imposing a huge burden on the trade, Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow says. It will be tabled to lawmakers in the 2008-09 legislative session.

Speaking at Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety & Environmental Hygiene today Dr Chow said given that 95% of the food Hong Kong people consume is imported from overseas, the city must strengthen its import-control measures to ensure a safe food supply.

Risk-based approach

After reviewing the food safety law and researching overseas legislation and regulatory regimes on food safety, the bureau proposes to formulate a new bill adopting an incremental and risk-based approach in expanding Hong Kong's import control, initially over food with high potential health risk. The control measures may be extended to other food types when the risk level of the food concerned has changed.

Dr Chow said the Government has balanced the need for tighter control and the trade's concerns about over-regulation which will result in higher compliance costs and hence higher food prices and reduction in food choice.

Noting the new law will boost people's confidence in the food trade, Dr Chow said this will be conducive to the business environment and long-term development.

Food traceability

Under the proposal live fish, live amphibians and ice, which is commonly incorporated into food or drink, will also be covered.

A mandatory registration system for food importers and distributors will be formed to bolster the Government's ability to trace problem food. The requirement equally applies to food coming from overseas or locally produced.

The registration for food importers and distributors will be for three years, subject to renewal. Registration fees will be charged on the basis of full-cost recovery. There are now 6,400 importers and 9,600 distributors in the food trade. All importers, distributors and retailers will have to keep records of food movement.

Recall power

The Food Safety Authority will be empowered to issue import and sale bans or recall orders where the authority has reasonable grounds to believe the food concerned poses a serious health hazard to the public. A new Food Safety Appeals Board will be formed to hear appeals from anyone who feels aggrieved by the authority's decision.

While local primary production constitutes only 5% of Hong Kong's total food consumption, local primary producers including fish and vegetable farmers who distribute food are also required to register with the Food Safety Authority and keep records on food movement. Sale bans and food recall orders will also apply to local primary produce.

Dr Chow said the trade is best placed to devise a system for the safe supply of food and should bear the primary legal responsibility for ensuring food safety. He urged the trade to support the bill.