Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ7: Recall of problematic food products

Following is a question by the Hon Wong Kwok-hing and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (November 30):

Question:

On the 13th of last month, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), in the light of food safety test results, notified the two major chain supermarkets to recall the canned mud carp which might contain carcinogenic substances. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective numbers of cases in the past three years in which FEHD asked food wholesalers and retailers to stop selling and to recall the food products in the light of food safety test results;

(b) how FEHD monitored to ensure their compliance with such demands; and

(c) whether it will consider making it mandatory for them to stop selling and to recall the food products, and prosecuting those retailers who continue to sell such food products?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) discovered 159, 141 and 164 cases where food samples failed the food safety tests under the regular Food Surveillance Programme in 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively. For each and every case that failed the test, FEHD has issued warning letters to the retailers and wholesalers concerned, ordered them to stop selling the problem products and asked for information about their suppliers in order to follow up the problem at source.

Since 2002, FEHD has openly requested suppliers and retailers to immediately stop selling and recall four food product, among which two cases were discovered in the Food Surveillance Programme that may pose immediate or grave hazard to the public health, and two cases due to major food incidents that occurred outside the territories.

(b) Whenever any food product in the market is found to have failed the test, FEHD would immediately follow up on the matter and send staff to investigate at the retail outlets concerned. Moreover, FEHD would order the shops to stop selling the product and furnish information about their suppliers to facilitate a recall of the problem food products. FEHD would ask for and check the invoices. It would also despatch staff to go around the markets to ensure that the product concerned has been withdrawn from the market within a short time.

(c) When any food product sample is found to have problems, FEHD would order the retailers and agents concerned to stop selling the product in order to protect public health. In case any person fails to comply with the order and continues to sell the problem product, the FEHD may hold and test the product and initiate prosecution. Our previous experience shows that Hong Kong agents and retailers are cooperative and always initiate timely recall for problem products.


Ends/Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:56

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