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Food labelling requirements gazetted
A number of food labelling requirements, which aim at offering better consumer protection, will come into operation on April 1, 1997.
The commencement notice of certain provisions stipulated in the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) Regulation 1996 published earlier this year is gazetted today (Friday).
These requirements include the declaration of the percentage by weight or actual amount of the ingredients in any food of which label places emphasis on the presence or low content of that ingredient, for example high-calcium or low-fat products.
Amendments prescribing the composition of skimmed milk and semi-skimmed milk, requiring the marking of pre-packaged food which has undergone irradiation, as well as requiring the labelling of food name instead of just "fancy/brand name" of food will also be effected on the same date.
The maximum penalty for offences under the regulation is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
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Improved protection for employees on wage claims
The government is proposing legislative amendments to improve protection to employees in their claims under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance (PWIO).
The Protection of Wages on Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 1996 gazetted today (Friday), seeks to extend the application period for employees to claim for ex-gratia payments under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (Fund) from four months to six months.
Ex-gratia payments under the Fund cover arrears of wages, wages in lieu of notice and severance payment.
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