XN000022-1982-08-02 — Page 5

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1982

SOME SCREENING TESTS ON FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS ARE DONE IN THE FOOD SECTION'S OWN LABORATORY WHILE THE MORE COMPLICATED ANALYSES ARE PERFORMED BY THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY OR THE PATHOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHOSE REPORTS MAY BE PRODUCED AS EVIDENCE IN COURT, HE EXPLAINED.

BESIDES FOOD INSPECTIONS, WHICH ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CPERATIONS SUB-SECTION, THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SUB-SECTION CARRIES OUT GENERAL DUTIES TO ESTABLISH THE OVERALL NEEDS OF THE SECTION AND TO STUDY THE ADEQUACY OF THE EXISTING LEGISLATION ON FCCD.

+AT THE MOMENT, WE ARE PROPOSING THE NEW LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR PRE-PACKAGED FOODS AND HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN FOOD REGULATIONS WHICH, WE HOPE, WILL BE ENACTED BEFORE THE END OF 1982.+ MR LEE SAID.

+GENERALLY THE FUTURE LABELLING REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT THE CORRECT NAME, THE INGREDIENTS, THE LATEST CONSUMPTION DATES, NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS ON USE AND STORAGE, AS WELL AS THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MANUFACTURER, BE INDICATED ON THE LABELS. THE REGULATIONS ON HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN FOOD SET DOWN THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED LIMITS OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES IN CERTAIN KINDS

FOOD, MR LEE SAID.

SOME EXISTING REGULATIONS ARE ALSO BEING REVISED TO KEEP FOOD QUALITY CONTROLS IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, THE CURRENT LIVING STANDARDS AND THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC.

FUNDS APPROVED FOR CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE ****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR IMPROVING AND UPGRADING MEDICAL SERVICES AT THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE TO ENABLE IT TO FUNCTION AS AN ACUTE GENERAL HOSPITAL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALLOCATE $14 MILLION TO THE MEDICAL CENTRE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND A NE» APPROACH ROAD TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE $17 MILLION, WITH THE REMAINING $3 MILLION TO BE RAISED BY THE CENTRE,

THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE, WHICH HAS 1 464 BEDS, BEGAN OPERATING A 24-HOUR CASUALTY SERVICE IN APRIL THIS YEAR, TAKING CARE OF AN INCREASING NUMBER OF ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY CASES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+AS THE DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES INCREASES, THE HOSPITAL WOULD REQUIRE FULL INTENSIVE CARE FACILITIES TO COMPLEMENT ITS OTHER SERVICES FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE CASES, HE SAID.

+ SUCH PROVISION WILL HELP EASE THE WORKLOAD AT THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, HE ADDED.

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