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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 15) reminded food importers and food distributors that the grace period of the Food Safety Ordinance (Cap. 612) will expire by the end of this month (January 31).
"The Ordinance came into effect on August 1, 2011. There is a six-month grace period to allow sufficient time for food traders to adjust to the new requirements," a CFS spokesman said.
The Ordinance introduces a food tracing mechanism, which comprises a registration scheme for food importers and food distributors and a record-keeping requirement relating to movement of food.
The key objective is to safeguard public health by helping the Government trace the source of food more effectively and take prompt action when dealing with food incidents. For food traders, the impact of such incidents can also be minimised if the origin of the problem can be identified earlier.
Starting from February 1, any person who does not register but carries on a food importation or distribution business commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. Those who fail to comply with the record-keeping requirement are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months.
Food importers or food distributors who have already registered or obtained a licence under other ordinances listed at Schedule 1 of the Ordinance are exempted from the registration requirement. The spokesman urged those who were not exempted but had not yet registered to register with FEHD as soon as possible, lest they commit an offence when the grace period ends.
To help the food trade understand and comply with the requirements of the Ordinance, the Centre has been actively engaging in publicity and public education.
These included setting up enquiry hotlines; broadcasting Announcements in the Public Interest on TV, radio and buses; placing advertisements in magazines and newspapers; posting InfoPanel messages in MTR train compartments; producing guidelines, code of practice, posters, pamphlets and booklets; and organising roving exhibitions.
The Centre also held a number of briefing sessions for food traders in the 18 districts and conducted an outreach programme targeting specific food trades.
"In the first six months from February 1 when the Ordinance is fully in force, CFS will continue its promotional and educational work with the aim of helping the food trade to comply with the law. Food traders who are found violating the Ordinance will be warned, and will be prosecuted if they fail to comply within a specific period afterwards," the spokesman said.
Member of the public and traders can visit the Ordinance website (www.foodsafetyord.gov.hk) or call the Food Importer/Distributor Registration and Import Licensing Office at 2156 3017 or 2156 3034 for more information.
Ends/Sunday, January 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:06
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