A new Food Safety, Inspection & Quarantine Department comprising a Centre for Food Safety may be formed, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says.

The proposal will reorganise the Food & Environmental Hygiene and Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Departments into the Food Safety, Inspection & Quarantine and Agriculture, Environmental Hygiene & Conservation Departments.

All functions concerning food safety, veterinary public health, inspection, quarantine and regulation over animals and plants, vegetables, freshwater fish, seafood and food products, and control over local livestock, poultry and mariculture farms, will be transferred to the new departments.

"We will also set up a Centre for Food Safety within the new department and create a post of controller to head the centre," Dr Chow said.

The controller will have professional knowledge and experience in public health and food safety, and a good rapport with regulatory authorities on the Mainland and overseas.

The Government will recruit additional expertise, particularly in veterinary surgery, food safety and food scientists.