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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (February 1) formally launched the Rapid Alert System (RAS) to enhance communication with the trade about food incidents and to facilitate prompt and appropriate action by traders.
"The centre has been conducting surveillance every day to identify local and overseas food incidents of concern, assessing their implications for public health, and responding where necessary to reduce possible risks to the public," a spokesman for the CFS said.
"In the process, timely communication is vital for traders to take swift and proper actions including stopping sale of or recalling concerned food products, and for trade associations to disseminate information to members."
Through the RAS, emails or fax messages are sent more effectively to the trade to alert them to food incidents with potential local impact. The system also has the option of sending short message service (SMS) alerts advising the recipients to check for the emails and fax messages about the incident.
The CFS has been piloting the RAS since September 2007. As of January 31, 2008, 47 rapid alerts have been sent through the new system. At present, over 800 local traders are on the distribution list.
"To enable the rapid alerts to reach more traders, the CFS will send letters to some 20,000 licensed food businesses, and food importers and distributors enrolled under the Pre-statutory Voluntary Notification Scheme, inviting them to register," the spokesman added.
"The support of the trade and trade associations is essential for prompt responses to food incidents. The enrollment form can be downloaded from the CFS website, www.cfs.gov.hk."
Ends/Friday, February 1, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:03
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