XN000022-1985-08-09 — Page 9

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1985

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PROPER LABELLING REQUIRED FOR PREPACKAGED FOOD

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THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1985, WHICH WILL FURTHER THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND CONSUMER BY REQUIRING PREPACKAGED FOODS TO BE PROPERLY LABELLED, HAVE BEEN GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

+IN THESE REGULATIONS, 'PREPACKAGED FOOD' MEANS ANY FOOD PACKAGED. WHETHER COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY, IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE CONTENTS CANNOT BE ALTERED WITHOUT OPENING OR CHANGING THE PACKAGING AND THE FOOD IS READY FOR PRESENTATION TO THE CONSUMER OR A CATERING ESTABLISHMENT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

APART FROM SOME MINOR EXEMPTIONS, THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROPER LABEL ARE:

*

THE NAME OF THE PRODUCT SHALL NOT BE FALSE OR MISLEADING OR DECEPTIVE AS TO THE NATURE OF THE FOOD;

* A LIST OF INGREDIENTS SHALL BE DECLARED:

* THE MINIMUM DURABILITY SHALL BE INDICATED ;

*

*

WHERE SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE ARE REQUIRED, THEY SHALL BE STATED;

THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MANUFACTURER OR PACKER SHALL BE GIVEN;

* THE QUANTITY OF THE CONTENTS SHALL BE DECLARED IN TERMS

OF COUNT, WEIGHT OR VOLUME AS THE CASE MAY BE; AND

* EITHER THE ENGLISH OR THE CHINESE LANGUAGE OR BOTH

LANGUAGES SHALL BE USED.

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS IS A $10 000 FINE AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. TO ALLOW THE TRADE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW LABELLING REQUIREMENTS, A GRACE PERIOD OF TWO YEARS AFTER THE REGULATIONS ARE GAZETTED IS PROVIDED.

+THESE REGULATIONS WILL BRING HONG KONG IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FAO (FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS), WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION AND THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE EEC WITH MODIFICATIONS TO SUIT LOCAL CONDITIONS IN RESPECT OF PROPER LABELLING FOR PREPACKAGED FOODS, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE

IN ADDITION TO PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, THESE REGULATIONS ALSO PROTECT THE CONSUMER FROM FALSE OR MISLEADING LABELS. TRADE AND INDUSTRY BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS HAVE BEEN WIDELY CONSULTED AND THE IR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTJ CONSIDERATION IN FINALISING THE REGULATIONS.

THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH HAS ARRANGED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF TO ENSURE PROPER ENFORCEMENT OF THESE REGULATIONS AND ITS FOOD SECTION WILL ADVISE ON ANY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED.

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