In his Policy Address, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says priority will be given to ensuring food safety. A set of practices will be introduced to ensure a safe and worry-free living environment in Hong Kong.

A Food Safety Bill will be introduced to provide for a comprehensive registration scheme for food importers and distributors.

They will be required to maintain proper transaction records of imported food so the Government can trace the concerned food's sources and points of sale in the event of a food incident.

Under the new legislation, when public health is under serious threat, the authorities will be empowered to require all wholesalers and retailers to stop selling and recall the food concerned.

The proposals are expected to be submitted to the Legislative Council by year end. The Bill will be introduced in the 2008-09 legislative session after a consultation exercise.

Food safety standards to be formulated

A set of comprehensive and clear food safety standards will also be formulated for Hong Kong.

The Government will conduct reviews and take reference from the food standards drawn up by the Codex Alimentarius Commission jointly set up by the Food & Agriculture Organisation and the United Nations World Health Organisation.

Based on reviews, recommendations on the control regimes on residues of agricultural pesticides and veterinary drugs will be submitted to LegCo in 2007 and 2008.

Nutrition labelling scheme to be enacted

To help consumers make informed choices and protect their health, a food labelling legislation will be enacted.

The Government plans to introduce the amendment bill on the Labelling Scheme on Nutrition Information for pre-packaged food into LegCo early next year.

The requirement for labelling food additives and allergens on pre-packaged food came into effect in July.