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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) will launch a pre-statutory voluntary registration scheme from October 1 for importers and distributors of miscellaneous food (Chinese herbs, health food / supplement, mixed dishes and food not covered in previous phases).
"The Government is planning to introduce a food safety bill, which will require local food importers and distributors to register with the CFS to facilitate the identification of the importers and distributors, tracing the source of food and taking follow-up action in case of any food incident," a CFS spokesman said today (September 29).
"Before the enactment of the new legislation and the mandatory registration scheme comes into force, we are introducing the Pre-statutory Voluntary Registration Scheme for Food Importers and Distributors in two stages," the spokesman said.
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The first stage of the pre-statutory voluntary registration scheme has been implemented in phases for importers and distributors of poultry eggs, game, meat and poultry meat, live food animals/poultry, milk, milk beverages, cream and frozen confection, vegetables and fruits, fish and fishery products.
From October 1, the CFS will accept registration applications from importers and distributors of miscellaneous food (Chinese herbs, health food / supplement, mixed dishes and food not covered in previous phases). They are encouraged to register with the CFS their business registration number, address, telephone number and person-in-charge.
The CFS today conducted a briefing on the registration scheme for importers and distributors of miscellaneous food (Chinese herbs, health food / supplement, mixed dishes and food not covered in previous phases) and also listened to their views.
The second stage of the pre-statutory voluntary registration scheme began in May. The timetable for the second stage is as follows:
Time Food types
May 2008 processed game, meat, poultry meat
and aquatic products
June 2008 egg products, processed vegetables
and fruit products, dairy
products, legumes, nuts and seeds
July 2008 cereals and grain products, herbs,
spices, fats and oils, salts,
condiments and sauces
August 2008 non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic
beverages, infant/follow up/
growing-up formula and baby food
September 2008 sugars, sweets and snacks
October 2008 miscellaneous (Chinese herbs*,
health food/ supplement*, mixed
dishes and food not covered by the
food types mentioned in stage 1
and above five phases)
*excluding those required to be registered under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Chapter 549)and Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance(Chapter 138)
The list of importers and distributors will be uploaded onto the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk) after the information provided by the participating importers and distributors has been collated for the reference of local wholesalers and retailers.
Application forms are available at the CFS on 8th floor, Murray Road Multi-storey Carpark Building, 2 Murray Road, Central, Hong Kong, and can be downloaded from the CFS website starting on October 1. Applicants can also fill in the electronic registration form on the website and submit it to the CFS.
Miscellaneous food (Chinese herbs, health food / supplement, mixed dishes and food not covered in previous phases) importers and distributors are welcome to call the CFS on 2156 3040 during office hours if they have any questions on the registration scheme.
Ends/Monday, September 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:15
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