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	news.gov.hk
	From Hong Kong's Information Services Department

August 23, 2007

Food safety

CE applauds food safety operations

Chief Executive Donald Tsang has lauded Man Kam To Food Control Office staff for their professionalism in enhancing the safety of food imported to Hong Kong.

Mr Tsang today visited the office to inspect its quarantine and inspection of food from the Mainland.

The office, managed by the Centre for Food Safety, is mainly tasked with three aspects of work - inspecting food vehicles; conducting tests for pesticides in vegetables and veterinary drug residues in raw milk; and, inspecting imported live food animals, freshwater fish and live seafood.

Good eating: Chief Executive Donald Tsang inspects operations at the Man Kam To Food Control Office and hails staff for their professionalism in enhancing food safety.

New measures

Mr Tsang was told that the centre has introduced or will initiate new measures to enhance the quality of food quarantine and inspection.

The Man Kam To Food Laboratory will acquire new equipment so tests can be conducted for more pesticides, boosting its detection from 70 chemicals to 200.

In view of the growing volume of cross-boundary food traffic and the trend for traders to use large food vehicles, the centre is planning to build more inspection platforms on sites adjacent to the office and expand its facilities to enhance the effectiveness of inspection.

Effective legislation

"Apart from more effective law enforcement, we also need more effective legislation. The Government is drafting a food safety law to tighten the management of the food supply process. Food importers and distributors will be put under regulation gradually in a bid to ensure the overall safety of food imports," Mr Tsang said.

"They will be required to enrol with the centre to facilitate the identification of the relevant importers and distributors, tracing the source of food and taking follow-up action in case of any food incident to ensure a more comprehensive protection of the safety of imported food."

Noting Guangdong authorities have started the implementation of a system of applying seals to vehicles and vessels transporting freshwater fish to Hong Kong, Mr Tsang said this new arrangement will enhance the management of food imports to Hong Kong during the transportation process and boost the safety standard of food from the province.