Hong Kong and Guangdong have signed a framework agreement on exchanges and co-operation in food safety.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau and Guangdong Food & Drug Administration Director-General Chen Yuansheng signed the agreement following the first working meeting on exchanges and co-operation in food safety in Guangzhou today.

Mrs Yau said the deal will foster mutual exchange of food safety information following the setting up of the Centre for Food Safety in the middle of this year. She said a series of food incidents last year, including the malachite green and Streptococcus suis cases, aroused widespread concern over food safety.

Since then the bureau has worked to strengthen links with Guangdong and neighbouring cities, Mrs Yau said, adding the agreement can be regarded as an important milestone in enhancing the food safety mechanism.

Key points

Key points of the deal are:

* enhanced information exchange - including significant food safety policies, regulations, standard introduction, revision or updating, as well as information and investigation findings on significant food safety incidents involving both sides;

* a designated point of liaison - the Guangdong Food & Drug Administration and the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau will be the respective liaison unit and both sides will designate liaison officers to handle day-to-day operation and specific issues;

* regular meetings - both sides agreed to convene working meetings at least once a year to review mutual co-operation and study the work arrangements at the next stage or major incidents;

* urgent meetings - both sides can convene urgent high-level meetings in the event of significant food safety incidents or major incidents if needed; and,

* expert communication - experts will study the speciality and technicality issues relating to food safety to provide views for the Governments' reference in policy making.

Mrs Yau said with the signing of the agreement and enhanced co-operation, the setting up of the Centre for Food Safety will make the work concerning the information, surveillance, investigation, publicity, education and research on food safety more systematic. Public awareness of and confidence in food safety will be raised.

During the meeting, the bureau gave a briefing on Hong Kong's food safety regulatory regime and the progress of the establishment of the Centre for Food Safety, while the Guangdong side gave an account of their food safety monitoring system.