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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries
Since the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation came into effect in 2014, the centre had taken more than 91,700 food samples at import, wholesale and retail levels to test for pesticide residues by the end of 2016. The overall satisfaction rate was more than 99.8 per cent.
To better protect Hong Kong from the threat of avian influenza, the amended Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations came into operation on 5 December 2015 to regulate the import of poultry eggs.
The government conducted public consultation exercises in 2015 on the regulation of nutrition and health claims for formula products and pre-packaged food for infants and young children under 36 months; and on the regulation of edible fats and oils and recycling of waste cooking oil. In 2016, the government continued the work of formulating specific regulatory proposals, taking into full account the views of stakeholders. It is also reviewing the levels of metallic contamination in food to align better with international standards. The government will continue to review and update other existing standards of food safety with reference to international practices and in view of the local situation.
Public Markets and Cooked Food Markets
The FEHD operates 101 public markets, including 25 free-standing cooked food markets. There are some 14,400 stalls selling fresh products, cooked food, light refreshments and household items and providing service trades. At the end of 2016, the overall occupancy rate at these markets was 90.9 per cent.
The department enhances the operating environment of the public markets by improving management, upgrading facilities, providing a more flexible mix of trade and carrying out promotional activities, such as thematic exhibitions, workshops and festive celebrations. Besides. regular maintenance, the department started improvement works at 14 markets in 2016, such as refurbishing the cooked food centres and toilets and improving electricity and lighting systems and fire services installations, and completed six of them. It will take forward progressively the installation of air-conditioning in public markets if the projects are supported by tenants, technically feasible and cost-effective.
Hawkers
The FEHD regulates hawking in Hong Kong. As at end-2016, there were 5,496 hawkers carrying out business in licensed fixed-pitch stalls and 415 itinerant hawkers.
A five-year Assistance Scheme for Hawkers in Fixed-pitch Hawker Areas, launched in 2013, offers financial help to 4,300 hawkers in 43 fixed-pitch hawker areas to reduce fire risks in hawker areas. In 2016, all 499 fixed-pitch hawkers whose stalls were situated at building staircase discharge points or places that might obstruct the operation of fire engines were relocated. Up to the end. of the year, the department had received 2,824 applications for relocation and reconstruction. grants, and 627 hawkers had surrendered their licences.
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