Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries 177
Licensing of Food Premises and Other Trades
The FEHD is the licensing authority for food businesses. It also issues permits for the sale of restricted foods, including Chinese herb tea, milk, frozen confections, sushi and sashimi, as well as licences for places of public entertainment such as theatres, cinemas and entertainment machine centres. Additionally, it issues trade licences for private swimming pools, commercial bathhouses and factories that tan hides and process shark fins (regarded as offensive trades). The FEHD also provides support to the Liquor Licensing Board, an independent statutory body that issues. liquor licences (including club liquor licences). The Chief Executive appoints members of the board who meet about four times a month to consider licence applications.
During the year, the department handled 3 089 applications for food business licences, 827 permits for restricted foods, 1133 licences for places of public entertainment, 43 licences for other trades, 856 liquor and club liquor licences, and 53 permits for karaoke establishments in premises with restaurant licences.
The department continues to streamline licensing procedures in line with the Government's policy of facilitating business operations in Hong Kong.
The FEHD executed closure orders against three food premises where food poisoning occurred and against one unlicensed food premises.
Food Safety and Labelling
The FEHD is tasked with ensuring that food for human consumption is safe. It has effective food control measures to do the job.
The Government has a Centre for Food Safety (CFS) within the FEHD to further strengthen its monitoring of foodstuff.
Under the food surveillance programme, 66 726 samples of foodstuff were taken at import, wholesale and retail points in 2008 for chemical, microbiological and radiological testing as part of the work of ensuring food safety.
A total of 28 467 vehicles carrying vegetables, and 42 178 vehicles carrying live food animals including pigs, cattle, goats and poultry were inspected at the Food Control Office and Animal Inspection Station at Man Kam To during the year. A total of 7 880 142 live food animals were examined and 71 302 blood and 32 442 urine, faecal and tissue samples were tested for disease and veterinary drug residues.
In 2008, amendments to three regulations governing food standards and food labelling were passed by the Legislative Council. The one concerning the use of preservatives and antioxidants in food went into operation on July 1, but the trade was given two years to make the changeover. The one relating to food colouring went into effect on December 1, prohibiting the use of a substance called Red 2G to colour food consumed in Hong Kong, while the regulation governing nutrition. labelling will go into force in July 2010.
The CFS is reviewing the regulatory framework for the control of pesticide and veterinary drug residues in food.