Formula code of practice set

August 15, 2012

Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man says the Government will push ahead with the legislative work on infant formula nutrition requirements and labelling.
 
Speaking to the media today, Dr Ko said, as the lead time for any legislative process is one to two years, the Government is looking at pushing ahead with a code of practice before any legislative initiative can be completed.
 
"If any legislative process is involved, we cannot pre-empt the legislature in terms of setting a deadline. Our direction is for the establishment of legislation to govern the nutrition requirements and labelling of infant formula. Before that can be completed, we will push ahead with a code of practice first.”
 
The first meeting of the preparatory task force of the Chinese Medicine Development Committee will be held at the end of this month.
 
Dr Ko said development of Chinese medicine will help alleviate pressure on the public hospital system.
 
Regarding the clean-up of plastic pellets on beaches, he said the amount of pellets recovered has fallen from a daily average of more than a tonne, to about 200kg. He said the clean-up operation will finish within two weeks with the stepping up of cleaning initiatives.