ENG-2002 — Page 226

CHAPTER 9

Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

Given Hong Kong's population density and the variety of food consumed here, ensuring food safety and a high standard of environmental hygiene and veterinary health is a major challenge. The Government is committed to meeting this challenge. It is also dedicated to helping the local agriculture and fisheries industries to enhance the safety and quality of their products so as to stay competitive.

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IN face of the new challenges and hazards arising from the changing environment and technologies, the Government has devoted much effort to ensuring that the food the population consumes is safe and that quality environmental hygiene and veterinary services are in place to provide a living environment comparable to other international cities. It is also the Government's policy objective to facilitate the sustainable development of the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture industries.

Organisational Framework

The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau is responsible for, among other matters, the policy formulation and resource allocation for food safety, environmental hygiene, veterinary health, and agriculture and fisheries. It also oversees implementation of policies to protect and promote food safety and veterinary health, to achieve a high standard of environmental hygiene, and to enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural and fishery sectors.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) was set up on January 1, 2000, to serve the people of Hong Kong in the area of food safety and environmental hygiene.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is responsible for implementing agriculture and fisheries policies, including the provision of infrastructural and technical support to facilitate the development of the two industries. It provides wholesale marketing facilities and animal disease diagnostic services, and administers agricultural and fisheries loans. The department is also the Government's veterinary services adviser.

Public Cleansing Services

The FEHD has been providing effective and efficient public cleansing services, such as street-cleansing services, waste collection, provision of public toilets and public bathhouses.