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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 29) reminded the food trade that the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2011 (Amendment Regulation) will take effect tomorrow (March 1). Upon its enactment, the presence of harmful substances (including exogenous estrogens) in dried milk, condensed milk and reconstituted milk is prohibited.
Currently, the safety of dried milk (including infant formula), condensed milk and reconstituted milk is regulated by the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) and its subsidiary legislation.
According to Regulation 3A of the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF), milk shall not contain any prohibited substances (mostly veterinary drugs) specified in the Second Schedule. Since the definition of milk in Cap. 132AF excludes dried milk, condensed milk or reconstituted milk, the prohibition under Regulation 3A is not applicable to the above milk products.
"To plug the loophole, the Administration has announced in the 2011-12 Policy Agenda that it would amend Cap. 132AF to extend the prohibition on the presence in food of veterinary drugs, including the three exogenous estrogens Dienoestrol, Diethylstilboestrol and Hexoestrol, to dried milk, condensed milk and reconstituted milk," a CFS spokesman explained.
"As infant formula is the main food for infants and given infants' vulnerability, stringent control on infant formula is welcomed by the public and the trade," he added.
The spokesman reminded the food trade to source dried milk, condensed milk and reconstituted milk from reliable suppliers. Under the Amendment Regulation, if any person imports, sells or consigns or delivers for sale for human consumption any dried milk, condensed milk or reconstituted milk which contains substances specified in the Second Schedule including the three exogenous estrogens, he shall be guilty of an offence and the maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Ends/Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:11
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