LCQ22: Ensuring safety of aquatic food products imported from Japan
*******************************************************************
Question:
In August 2023, the Government issued the Food Safety Order (the Order) to prohibit the import of aquatic, sea salt and seaweed food products originating from 10 regulated metropolis/prefectures of Japan into Hong Kong. According to the information in the press releases previously issued by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, there has been an aggregate of 30 or so cases in suspected breach of the Order since its implementation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective cycles and numbers of inspections and sample tests conducted by the CFS in accordance with the risk-based principle on aquatic food products imported from Japan since the implementation of the Order; whether the CFS has conducted screening of the customs clearance documents for each consignment of imported aquatic food products; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) of the number of cases involving entry into Hong Kong by air and by sea among the imported aquatic products and their by-products that have been intercepted for suspected breach of the Order since its implementation; whether the Government has examined the supply and distribution of such products by the importers involved in those cases, and of the respective numbers of licensed food premises and food product sellers involved;
(3) of the following information on the cases in suspected breach of the Order mentioned in part (2): (i) the number of licensed food importers prosecuted (and the number of repeated offenders among them); (ii) the progress of each prosecution case; (iii) the penalties imposed in convicted cases (such as warnings and fines); and (iv) the average amount of fine imposed in each convicted case; and
(4) as the Government hosted five online briefing sessions for relevant trades during the initial implementation of the Order, whether the Government has any plans to host regular briefing sessions for the food importing industry to step up the explanation of the arrangements under the Order, so as to reduce the chance of an inadvertent breach of the Order by the industry?
Reply:
President,
To safeguard food safety and protect public health in Hong Kong in response to Japan's 30-year plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at Fukushima into the ocean, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has issued a Food Safety Order (the Order) to prohibit all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweed food products originating from 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong starting from August 24, 2023.
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweed food products that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the FEHD conducts comprehensive radiological tests to verify that their radiation levels do not exceed the guideline levels set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission before they are allowed to be imported.
A reply to the various parts of the Hon Joephy Chan's question is as follows:
(1) Since the Order commenced operation, the CFS has been screening all customs clearance documents for aquatic, sea salt and seaweed food products imported from Japan and conducting radiological tests on every consignment of these products. As at April 21, 2026, the CFS had taken a total of 140 038 samples from all consignments of the above food products for radiological tests. To date, no samples have been found to exceed the permitted radiation levels.
(2) and (3) Since the Order commenced operation, as at April 21, 2026, the CFS has identified a total of 51 cases of suspected breach of the Order by importers. Among these cases, altogether 37 importers were involved and eight of them were repeat offenders; and 42 cases involved entry into Hong Kong by air and nine by sea. All the aquatic products, sea salt and seaweed food products involved were detained and inspected by the CFS at the boundary control points. None entered the market for supply to licensed food premises or for sale.
The CFS will follow up on each case by, inter alia, notifying the Japanese authorities of the incidents. Prosecution will be instituted against the importers concerned should there be sufficient evidence. Regarding the cases mentioned above, the CFS has instituted a total of 45 prosecutions against the importers concerned. Of these, 43 cases resulted in convictions with fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 while the remaining two cases are being processed.
(4) The CFS has been explaining the Order and other control measures on Japanese imported food products to the trade and stakeholders through various channels. Apart from holding five thematic online briefing sessions, the CFS has also conducted three Trade Consultation Forums and set up a thematic webpage. The webpage provides detailed information on the Order and other control measures on Japanese imported food products, as well as the situation update of radiation tests on Japanese imported food products. As the Order has now been in operation for nearly three years, the industry is generally aware of the requirements. The CFS will conduct further promotion to the industry as necessary, and will continue to announce cases of suspected breaches of the Order by importers so identified via press releases to notify the public and to remind the industry.
Ends/Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:22
Issued at HKT 12:22
NNNN