Tightened controls: Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow outlines new measures to ensure safe dairy products.

An amended regulation implementing an immediate ban on melamine in foods will be gazetted tomorrow, Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow says, adding the Government will also study the enactment of a food recall law as soon as possible.

Free general assessments for children will be provided at 18 designated general outpatient clinics and seven special assessment centres set up at hospital clusters from tomorrow.

Tougher law

References to US and European Union standards have been made in the amendment, taking into account melamine traces can be due to migration, food processing and environmental contamination.

The Government will set the maximum concentration limit of melamine in food for children under 36 months, and pregnant and lactating women at 1mg per kilogram of food. The cap for other foods will be 2.5mg per kilogram.

"After the regulation becomes effective the trade will have the duty to ensure the food safety requirement by law," Dr Chow said, adding offenders face six months' jail and a $50,000 fine.

As demand for tests are expected to rise, the Government Laboratory will hold a briefing for private labs to explain the technology and procedures in testing melamine.

Dr Chow said while the Government has plans to introduce an all-embracing food safety bill in the coming legislative year, it will deal with the food recall law first to prevent problematic foods going on sale.

Besides keeping close contact with Mainland authorities and local food traders the bureau will send experts to the Mainland to monitor the situation and meet with milk powder importers to ensure sufficient supply to Hong Kong.

Product checks

The Centre for Food Safety has completed tests on milk products, including infant formulae currently on sale. It will continue regular product checks to ensure public health.

It has taken 376 food samples for testing in the past week, including milk powder for babies, infants, pregnant women and the elderly and other dairy products. More products will be tested in the next two weeks.

So far the centre has named 10 products with unsatisfactory results. All 64 sample results today, including those for milk powder, milk beverage, "cha cha dessert", frozen confections, condensed milk, evaporated milk, raw milk, cheese, butter and cream, showed they were free from melamine. Click here for details.

Hospital assessment 

Apologising for the unsatisfactory arrangements at Princess Margaret Hospital this morning, Dr Chow said children under 12-year-old who have consumed suspicious milk products will be given free assessments at designated clinics from tomorrow. Priority will be given to younger and higher-risk children to ensure early treatment.

Initially the 18 clinics will open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Each clinic will have 50 service quotas on every weekday and 30 for weekend and holiday sessions.

They can handle the assessment of 5,600 patients per week. The Hospital Authority will review the opening hours depending on service demand. Click here for details.

Another child ill

Meanwhile, a four-year-old boy born in Hong Kong but living on the Mainland has been confirmed today to have renal problems related to the consumption of melamine-tainted milk products. He has been diagnosed with renal stones and been hospitalised. He is stable.

It is the second case reported to the Centre for Health Protection so far. The centre's hotline, 2125 1133, received 955 enquiries up to 3pm today.

The Princess Margaret Hospital today also provided medical consultations to 63 people who claimed to have taken melamine-tainted milk products. They comprise 34 men and 29 women aged two months to 17 years.