Press Releases
HWFB delegation studies food traceability system in Japan (with photos)
The Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Food and Environmental
Hygiene), Mrs Carrie Yau, today (November 22) visited two corporations in Japan
to learn more about the application of radio frequency identification (RFID)
technology in food traceability systems at different levels of the supply chain.
Mrs Yau also called on the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries where she met with the Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Mr
Hidenori Murakami, to discuss traceability of food products in the country.
"Japan is one of the countries actively studying and experimenting with the
application of RFID techniques to food traceability system, with a view to
ensuring safe supply of raw material, preventing food incidents and helping
boost consumers' confidence in food.
"It will be a good reference to us in applying the technology to food imported
from the Mainland, as well as other major food importing countries. As stated in
the Policy Address, we will explore the feasibility of applying RFID technique
in tracking Mainland food supplied to Hong Kong," Mrs Yau said.
Another example worth drawing on the experience was the collaboration by private
and public corporations in research and development of advance information
technology in tracing the origins of food supplied to Hong Kong and enhance
control food supply at sources, she remarked.
Some companies are adopting a new quick response (QR) code system which can
store even more information than the existing bar code system. Customers can
access the homepage of the food manufacturing plant to obtain more information
such as origin of raw material etc. Also there are companies applying new
software to ensure detailed records are kept at each level of production to
facilitate traceability management.
"We will analyse the mode of operation in Japan in this area and explore how
best to encourage local and Mainland food industry to develop similar
traceability systems.
"A more efficient traceability system will facilitate the Government, the trade
and consumers, as well as overseas food authorities to obtain more information
and to take swift response action in case of food incident. The objective is to
ensure that Hong Kong people will enjoy safe and healthy food," she added.
Separately, in the meetings with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, views were
exchanged on nutrition labelling scheme for pre-packaged food.
Joining Mrs Yau to Japan from November 20 to 22 were officials from the Health,
Welfare and Food Bureau and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. The
purpose of the visit was to study the food traceability system, cremation policy
and practice as well as the implementation of nutrition labelling requirements
in Japan.
Ends/Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:49
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