Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ16: Food Safety

     Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (June 23):

 

Question:

 

     While the Mainland media uncover from time to time the production of substandard or counterfeit food products, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) has recently found in the territory soy sauce counterfeiting a mainland brand. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

 

(a)  of the number of cases involving substandard and counterfeit food products uncovered by the law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong in each of the past three years, the number of these cases involving food products from the Mainland, and the details of the prosecutions instituted by the authorities against the manufacturers and importers concerned;

 

(b)  whether they have stepped up sample laboratory tests on the food products imported from the Mainland so as to prevent the flow of substandard and counterfeit food products into Hong Kong; if so, of the relevant details;

 

(c)  whether they will strengthen the reciprocal notification mechanism on food safety matters set up with the relevant Mainland authorities; if so, of the relevant details; if not, the reasons for that; and

 

(d)  whether they will step up publicity to encourage the public to report to the authorities shops selling substandard and counterfeit food products; if so, of the relevant details; if not, the reasons for that?

 

Reply:

 

(a)  Under the routine Food Surveillance Programme conducted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), it was found that 264, 162 and 141 samples of food products were not in compliance with the relevant regulations of Hong Kong in 2001, 2002 and 2003 respectively. About half of these cases involved food products imported from the Mainland. FEHD had followed up these cases with the manufacturers/importer/retailers and a total of 155 cases were prosecuted.

 

     On another front, in 2001, 2002 and 2003, the C&ED uncovered 26, 13 and 10 cases involving counterfeit food products respectively. These counterfeit goods concerned included mooncakes, rice, canned food, confectionary, MSG, ginseng, frozen meat, drinks, etc. With the exception of frozen meat, it is believed that all the other counterfeit food products had come from the Mainland. From 2001 to 2003, C&ED initiated prosecution in a total of 44 cases on counterfeit food products.

 

(b)  The food safety control framework in Hong Kong consists of several main components, including safety control of imported food, food surveillance, risk assessment, etc. Similar to international practice, we have adopted a risk-based approach in devising our food surveillance programme. Under this approach, FEHD takes food samples at the import, wholesale and retail levels for microbiological and chemical testing. After the media reports of the substandard food incidents in the Mainland, FEHD has stepped up inspection of food products imported from the Mainland and has increased the number of samples for testing.  FEHD has since collected some 130 samples for testing.

 

     Separately, officers of C&ED always maintain high vigilance in inspecting goods imported and exported via our boundary control points to prevent prohibited articles, including counterfeit food products, from entering Hong Kong. In particular, Customs officers will step up interception at control points in response to counterfeit food products discovered in the market. We will accord high priority to allegations relating to counterfeit food products once we receive reports of the kind.

 

     Moreover, the Customs authorities in Hong Kong and the Mainland have established a solid foundation for cooperation and have a mutual notification system in place. In addition to frequent exchange of intelligence, we also conduct joint operations at the two sides of the boundary to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities involving counterfeit and pirated articles.

 

(c)  FEHD has established a mutual notification mechanism with the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. In case of food safety incidents affecting the food exported to Hong Kong, the Mainland authorities would alert FEHD for follow-up actions. Regarding the recent disclosure of substandard foods found in the Mainland, FEHD has approached the Mainland authorities for details and follow-up action. According to information so far obtained, the concerned food items were not for export to Hong Kong. FEHD will meet with Mainland authorities later this week to discuss the way forward in safeguarding the quality of Mainland food items sold in Hong Kong.

 

(d)  FEHD received reports on substandard food products via various means, including its 24-hours hotline, written submissions, and referrals from the Consumer Council and the media. To enhance public awareness of food safety, the Risk Communication Division of FEHD will release information related to public health and food safety through the website of FEHD, press conferences and publication of pamphlets.

 

     Similarly, C&ED will keep members of the public informed about details of cases which arouse public concern, such as the detection of counterfeit food products, through the mass media. C&ED will also regularly display and promote its 24-hour complaint hotline on the newspaper, radio, television and other mass media channels to allow for public reports and complaints, including those on counterfeit food products. In addition, registered trademark owners regularly introduce anti-counterfeiting devices on their products to the general public and will also notify the latter about the circulation of counterfeit products in the market to call for public awareness of those counterfeit goods.

 

Ends/Wednesday, June 23, 2004

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