ENG-2015 — Page 196

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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

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 children under the age of 36 months; and on the regulation of edible fats and oils and recycling of waste cooking oil. It is in the course of formulating specific regulatory proposals, taking into full account the views of stakeholders.

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. As at the end of 2015, the overall occupancy rate at these markets was 91.1 per cent.

In May 2015, the bureau released a consultancy report on a study, commissioned in 2013, that examined how to improve the operating environment of public markets, including their functions and positioning, factors affecting their competitiveness, public expectations and ways to retain traditional trades. The government is following up the recommendations made in the report.

Hawkers

The FEHD regulates hawking in Hong Kong. As at the end of 2015, there were 5,703 hawkers carrying out business in licensed fixed-pitch stalls and 430 itinerant hawkers.

A five-year 'Assistance Scheme for Hawkers in Fixed-pitch Hawker Areas, launched in June 2013, offers financial help to 4,300 hawkers in 43 fixed-pitch hawker areas to reduce fire risks in hawker areas. In 2015, the department obtained agreement on the relocation arrangements of all 496 fixed-pitch hawkers whose stalls were situated at building staircase discharge points or places that might obstruct the operation of fire engines.

Up to the end of 2015, the department had received 2,205 applications for relocation and reconstruction grants and 481 hawkers had surrendered their licences.

Slaughterhouses

The FEHD oversees the hygiene standards of licensed slaughterhouses in Sheung Shui, Tsuen Wan and Cheung Chau. Meat supplied by the slaughterhouses has to pass inspection by health officials before delivery to markets. During 2015, 40,809 animal health certificates and 6,849 entry permits for local pigs were verified at the slaughterhouses, 50,867 samples of urine and tissue were taken from animals and tested for veterinary drug residues, and 1,669,103 pigs, 17,915 head of cattle and 4,085 goats were slaughtered.

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