The draft technical guideline notes on the nutrition-labelling scheme will be finalised by July to help the trade prepare for the new scheme requirements, Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow says.

Dr Chow told the Legislative Council today the Centre for Food Safety will help the trade adapt quickly to the changes through channels such as workshops to ensure their compliance with the law requirements on nutrition labelling when the grace period ends.

Importers and manufacturers of prepackaged food with annual sales volume under 30,000 units may apply to the Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene for an exemption from the requirements. The estimated cost for processing these applications is about $3 million a year.

As a usual practice, the department will regularly review the service costs and fees.