Press Releases
Administration's response to views on the establishment of an independent statutory body to oversee food safety matters
In response to press enquiries on the establishment of an independent statutory
body comprising of experts, academics and members of the general public to
oversee food safety matters, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau
said today (September 22) that having regard to the need for carrying out
statutory duties, it would appear more appropriate that food safety regulatory
functions be performed by a government department.
These include duties such as taking enforcement actions involving prosecutions,
conducting government-to-government negotiations arising from the need to
implement temporary suspension of food imports in response food safety incidents
(e.g. avian influenza and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy outbreaks in other
countries), and Hong Kong's participation in international organisations
requiring Government representation such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
"In overseas countries like the United States and Singapore, food safety
functions are performed by government agencies. For instance, in the United
States, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is a government agency
under the US Department of Health and Human Services; in Singapore, the Agri-food
& Veterinary Authority is a government agency under the Ministry of National
Development," the spokesman said.
"We are currently studying the various models in other countries to see which
model is most suitable for Hong Kong's situation. We will also consider the
establishment of an advisory committee consisting of experts from various fields
such as the medical and veterinary professions, food scientists, nutritionists,
academics from Universities, etc, to advise the Government on the setting up of
local food standards and to conduct researches on food risks to complement the
work of the new centre for food safety. As and when the details have been
formulated, we will consult the Legislative Council panel on Food Safety and
Environmental Hygiene before implementation," the spokesman added.
Ends/Thursday, September 22, 2005
Issued at HKT 20:17
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