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Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (January 10):
Question:
It has been reported that it is a very common practice among farm operators to use hormones to stimulate the growth of animals and plants. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) how the existing legislation regulates the permitted levels of hormones contained in animals and plants on sale for food consumption; if there is no such regulation over various types of hormones used for the above purpose, of the reasons for that, and whether it will legislate in this regard; if it will legislate, of the details;
(b) whether the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has taken food samples regularly to test the level of hormones contained therein; if so, of the number of samples taken in the past three years and, among such samples, the number of those found to have contained hormones as well as the relevant details; if not, whether FEHD will include hormones as an item for chemical tests under the Food Surveillance Programme; and
(c) whether it has conducted any research on whether consumption of foods with excessive hormones may lead to early maturity in children; if so, of the research findings; if not, whether such research will be conducted and, if so, of the research timetable?
Reply:
Madam President:
(a) The current Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap 132, sub leg. AF) provides that no person shall sell or consign or deliver for sale for human consumption, any fish (excluding live fish other than shell fish), meat (flesh or other edible parts of animals and poultry intended for human consumption) or milk which contains any of the following hormones for human consumption:
* Dienoestrol
* Diethylstilboestrol
* Hexoestrol
(including salts and esters thereof)
Any person who breaches any of the above requirements is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Furthermore, the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues) Regulation (Cap 139, sub leg. N) provides that any food animal farmer who keeps any food animal (including animals and poultry) that contains the above-mentioned hormones, unless administered in accordance with the prescription of a registered veterinary surgeon, commits an offence. In addition, any food animal trader who knowingly keeps any food animal that contains the above-mentioned hormones also commits an offence. Any person who breaches any of the above provisions is liable to a fine of $100,000.
There is no specific provision in law prescribing standards for hormones used on food plants. Neither has the international community set any comprehensive standard for hormones used on food plants. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) will continue to monitor the food safety of plants in accordance with the risk analysis principles. Moreover, the Pesticides Ordinance (Cap 133) provides that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is responsible for controlling the manufacture, import, supply, packaging and retail of pesticides. Under the Ordinance, hormones used on plants are already included as "plant growth regulator" in the definition of pesticides. At present, there are 11 plant growth regulators registered in Hong Kong. They are mostly used in agricultural production to regulate and stimulate the growth of plants and make the plants less prone to diseases. Under normal circumstances, these plant growth regulators, when used as directed on the labels, would not cause harm to humans, animals or the environment.
We will closely monitor relevant developments in international standards and consider the need to extend the current scope of regulation.
(b) Under its regular Food Surveillance Programme, the CFS takes food samples for hormone testing at the import, wholesale and retail levels. Between January 2003 and June 2006, the CFS took a total of about 700 food samples (including meat, fish products, shell fish products, milk and milk products) to test for hormones. All the test results were satisfactory.
(c) The Department of Health (DH) has not conducted any study on precocious puberty among Hong Kong children in relation to consumption of food with excessive hormones. DH does not have any plan for such a study. However, the Student Health Service of DH regularly conducts physical checks and puberty development assessments for students between the age of six and 19. Over the past three years, about 0.2% students were found in each academic year to have shown signs of precocious puberty and needed to be referred to Hospital Authority for follow-up. Most of these cases are related to inheritance. At present, there is no evidence suggesting that precocious puberty in the children of Hong Kong is related to hormones in food.
Ends/Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:30
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