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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, and the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, today (September 17) held an inter-departmental meeting with relevant departments to discuss measures to strengthen regulation of the safety of edible oil and the recycling of used cooking oil.
The participants discussed and expressed deep concerns about issues concerning the import and export of edible lard as well as recycling of used cooking oil, triggered by Taiwan's "substandard cooking oil" incident. They agreed to examine ways to strengthen the relevant regulatory measures.
At the meeting, the two bureaux reached a consensus and agreed in principle to step up regulation and amend the law to safeguard food safety and Hong Kong's reputation.
The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) will review the relevant legislation relating to food safety and require by legislation that "used cooking oil" or "substandard oil" not intended for human consumption (such as "substandard lard") must not be used as ingredient for the production of edible oil. All edible oil must comply with the proposed legal standard.
In addition, any person who imports, distributes or produces edible oil must ensure that the products comply with the above requirements. Non-compliance will be an offence. Food premises must also ensure that their edible oil complies with the relevant requirements. Meanwhile, edible oil importers are required to provide an official certificate issued by the place of origin or a certificate issued by an independent testing institution recognised by the government of the place of origin for the inspection of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). Copies of the certificate must also be provided to their distributors, or retailers or food premises supplied with the oil for FEHD's inspection.
Regarding edible oil exported from Hong Kong, FHB proposes that an export licence must be obtained, together with the provision of an official certificate or a certificate issued by an independent testing institution recognised by the Government, to prove that the edible oil meets the statutory requirements.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and FEHD will work together to strengthen the regulation and monitoring of the recycling of local used cooking oil. The licensing conditions for restaurant and food factory licence of FEHD will require all used cooking oil to be handed over to collectors or recyclers recognised by EPD and all records to be properly kept to prevent at source the used cooking oil from re-entering the food chain. The Environment Bureau (ENB) will in parallel consider legislative amendments to strengthen the regulating efforts.
The above measures are preliminary legislative proposals of FHB and ENB, and will require detailed discussions on their details by the relevant departments.
The two bureaux will seek to launch public consultation on the legislative proposals at the end of this year or early next year.
Ends/Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 22:00
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