Press Releases

SFH on nutrition labelling

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session in the Legislative Council Building today (December 11):

Reporter: (Nutrition labelling)

Secretary for Food and Health: I think we have struck a very good balance on this proposal, particularly what we have been doing is very much what the Codex is progressing towards. I believe that we have general support from the panel today. We expect that when we introduce this regulation into the Legislative Council, it will be discussed but it will also be approved.

Reporter: The health sector is not too happy that cholesterol has been removed from nutrition labelling. How do you respond to that?

Secretary for Food and Health: The health sector always likes to have most of the things labelled and also have the public well informed. A lot of consumers, dieticians and doctors always like to have very specific requests. We also understand that if we do that, then the market items that Hong Kong would receive would be considerably less, it would affect the supply and also the variety of food that would be able to come to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a place well-known for its supremacy and people always like to try new stuff. I think we need to strike a good balance. Looking at the progress of the European Community and other countries, and also the Codex, which is formed by the World Health Organisation and also the Food and Agriculture Organisation, this is actually a very good balance. I believe what we are doing is what most countries are also moving towards.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)


Ends/Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:47

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