LCQ16: Regulating non-food products in snack-like packaging
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Question:
A primary school student was recently admitted to hospital after accidentally ingesting a bath preparation in candy-like packaging. It is learnt that the packaging of the product concerned lacked Chinese labelling. The incident highlights the risk of accidental consumption posed to children by some non-food products on the market with packaging that closely resembles snacks. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the number of cases received annually over the past three years by the Hospital Authority involving hospital admissions due to accidental consumption of non-food products (particularly daily necessities or toys with packaging closely resembling food); and in which of the number of cases involving children aged 12 or under;
(2) as pursuant to the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, manufacturers, importers and suppliers are required to ensure that the consumer goods they supply comply with the general safety requirements, and the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation also stipulates that warnings on consumer goods shall be presented in both the English and Chinese languages, whether the Customs and Excise Department has, over the past three years, proactively conducted inspections of products packaged to resemble snacks or consumer goods with misleading packaging on the market; if so, of the respective numbers of non-compliance cases, prosecutions and convictions, as well as the value and quantity of confiscated items;
(3) in addition to the aforementioned Ordinance and Regulation, whether there are any other laws regulating non-food products packaged to resemble snacks (e.g. bath preparations, laundry pods, etc.); if so, of the details; and
(4) whether the Education Bureau and other relevant government departments will step up publicity and education targeting schools and parents to prevent children from accidentally consuming non-food products in snack-like packaging?
Reply:
President,
In response to various parts of the question raised by Hon Leung Man-kwong, having consulted the Health Bureau, the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), the reply is as follows:
(1) Over the past three years, the number of cases received by the Hong Kong Poison Control Centre of the Hospital Authority involving patients seeking medical attention after accidentally ingesting non‑food items is tabulated as follows:
| Year | Number of cases received involving patients seeking medical attention after accidental ingestion of non‑food items | Number of cases involving children aged 12 or below |
| 2023 | 241 | 83 |
| 2024 | 192 | 56 |
| 2025 | 190 | 72 |
| Total | 623 | 211 |
(2) and (3) Any person supplying relevant products or articles to consumers, regardless of the form, packaging and sales channel, is responsible for ensuring that their safety complies with the requirements of relevant ordinances.
The Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance requires manufacturers, importers and suppliers to ensure that the consumer goods they supply are reasonably safe. The Consumer Goods Safety Regulation requires that warnings or cautions on the packaging or labels of consumer goods shall be provided in both the Chinese and English languages in a legible and conspicuous manner.
The C&ED is the enforcement agency of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance. From 2023 to 2025, the C&ED conducted 5 546 surveillance visits, and investigated 151 cases. During the above period, the C&ED prosecuted one person and 10 companies involved in 13 cases related to various types of consumer goods (Note) in accordance with the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance and the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation. All the defendants were convicted and fined by the Court, with the amount ranging from $4,000 to $32,000.
(4) The EDB has all along been liaising with various government departments and non-governmental organisations to advise schools and enhance publicity on students' health and safety matters. For instance, with the new regulatory requirements for konjac-containing jelly confectionery products taking effect on April 1, 2026, the EDB has promptly collaborated with the Centre for Food Safety to issue a letter to all schools in Hong Kong, drawing their attention to the requirements under the new regulation and advising them to promote food safety awareness among students, caregivers and staff by displaying educational materials such as posters and leaflets on safe eating habits and choking prevention.
In addition, the Department of Health (DH) promotes to the public messages on injury prevention with a view to safeguarding health of citizens. In respect of children's safety at home, the DH published the Domestic Safety Handbook in 2019 to provide recommendations on the safe use of common household products, electrical appliances and furniture that may pose potential hazards. In addition, the Maternal and Child Health Centres and Student Health Service Centres of the DH provide health promotion and disease prevention services respectively for children from birth to five years old, as well as primary and secondary school students. These services include the promotion of relevant information during individual health counselling sessions to prevent accidents such as accidental ingestion of foreign bodies by children. Furthermore, the DH also disseminates messages on home safety and injury prevention to parents through various channels, such as public talks, health education resources, electronic publications, websites and social media platforms.
Note: The types of consumer goods involved include face masks, slippers, rechargeable flashlights, whitening creams, dishwashing detergents, drain cleaners, portable rechargeable fans, gardening supplies, laundry capsules and personal care products.
Ends/Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:48
Issued at HKT 12:48
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