Strategic advice on nutritional products
Hong Kong Food Safety Ordinance transition period expires end January
26 January 2012
Food importers and distributers have until the end of January 2012 to get into compliance with Hong Kong's Food Safety Ordinance, which came into effect in August last year.
The Ordinance introduces a food tracing mechanism, which comprises a registration scheme for food importers and food distributors and a record-keeping requirement relating to movement of food.
Its objective is to safeguard public health by helping the Government to trace the source of food more effectively and take prompt action when dealing with food incidents.
From February 1, any person who does not register but carries on a food importation or distribution business commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Failure to comply with the Ordinance's record-keeping requirement can result in a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months.
Food importers or food distributors who have already registered or obtained a licence under other ordinances listed at Schedule 1 of the Ordinance are exempted from the registration requirement.
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