Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ1: Genetically modified foods
Following is a question by the Dr Hon Lui Ming-wah and a reply by the Secretary
for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(December 21):
Question:
It has been reported that while the Chinese Government has not yet approved the
planting and selling of genetically modified rice on a commercial scale, a green
group has tested 16 rice samples from the wholesale and retail markets in Hubei
Province and finds that 10 of these samples have been genetically modified, and
some of the rice has even been exported to other provinces and cities including
Guangdong Province. Since the Mainland is one of the sources of rice imported
into Hong Kong, genetically modified rice which comes from unknown sources and
has not undergone safety tests may possibly be imported into Hong Kong, hence
posing a threat to public health. Regarding the monitoring of genetically
modified foods, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it will, in the light of the above sample test results, ascertain if
genetically modified rice has been imported from the Mainland into Hong Kong,
and whether measures have been taken to curb the import into Hong Kong of
genetically modified rice which does not have the Mainland authorities' approval
for its planting and selling;
(b) whether the authorities have taken samples of all imported rice and
conducted DNA-tests on the rice samples, or have required rice importers to
produce certification of the relevant tests; if not, whether they will, in the
light of the above sample test results, conduct the tests or require the
relevant certification, so as to ensure that all the imported rice is safe for
consumption; and
(c) as it has been reported that the European Union, the Mainland, Taiwan, South
Korea and Japan, etc, have vigorously formulated and implemented legislation or
mandatory labelling systems on monitoring genetically modified foods, whether
the Hong Kong authorities will formulate and implement similar legislation or
systems?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has asked the Ministry
of Agriculture about the allegation of Greenpeace regarding sale of unapproved
genetically modified (GM) rice in the Mainland market. The reply noted that all
GM crops had to pass safety assessment tests before being put into commercial
production on the Mainland.
The Ministry of Agriculture has received applications concerning GM rice but
related food safety and environmental impact assessment are still in process. To
date, the Mainland has not approved any GM rice for commercial production.
The FEHD has also contacted the Mainland authorities but found no evidence
indicating the GM rice has entered into Hong Kong market. The Hong Kong
Government would continue to follow up the matter with the relevant Mainland
authorities and asked the departments concerned to adopt effective measures to
prevent GM rice that had not passed the safety assessment tests from entering
into Hong Kong.
(b) We have not taken samples from imported rice for genetic tests in the past
or required the importers to provide relevant testing certificates. According to
the World Health Organization, GM foods on sale in the international market have
passed risk assessment and, therefore, are unlikely to pose adverse effect on
human health. At present, there is no evidence indicating that GM rice would
pose food safety problems.
At present, Hong Kong does not have any specific legislation regulating GM food.
But the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132) provides that
all food (whether they be genetically modified or not) sold in Hong Kong must be
fit for human consumption.
(c) To address public concern about the safety of GM food, the Government
proposes to implement a mandatory pre-market safety assessment mechanism. The
Government would adopt the safety assessment principles and guidelines approved
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (the Codex) for GM food in determining
whether the manufacturer has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the safety
of their GM food. The Government is currently preparing a public consultation
document on the pre-market safety assessment for GM food that will detail
specific safety assessment methods to be adopted. The trade will also be
consulted in due course before formulating plans for implementing the safety
assessment mechanism.
Given that there is no consensus in the international community regarding
mandatory labeling, the Government would keep a close watch on the discussion of
the Codex regarding the issue for follow-up action. To address the public demand
for product information, the Government would encourage the trade to label GM
food on a voluntary basis. At present, the Government is considering a guideline
for voluntary labeling to help the trade make true claims regarding the GM
content in their food.
Ends/Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:10
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