The LegCo has set up a bill committee on Food Safety Bill, which will
enhance food trace-ability with the food importers and distributors
registration scheme and record-keeping regulations. In principal, I
support the bill for the Administrations to locate the source of food
promptly during food incidents. However, I have concerns that small and
medium enterprises may find it difficult to spare space and manpower
for keeping transaction records. Small food tenants doing business in
cash may not have a system in keeping transaction records.
As one of the bill committee members, I have requested the Government
to give due consideration to relax record-keeping regulations and the
proposed penalty. The meetings will be resumed for the scrutiny of the
Bill in September and I will keep you informed of the progress through
my website and the blog.
Summary of the Proposed Food Safety Bill: -Food retailers whose
principal business is not the distribution or supply of food by
wholesale would not be required to register. -As a business
facilitation measure, food importers or distributors who have already
registered or obtained a licence under Cap. 132X, they would not be
required to register with DFEH again under the Food Safety Bill. -The
capture or transaction records must be kept for a period of three
months for live aquatic products and food with a shelf-life of three
months or less, e.g. fresh meat or 24 months for food with a shelf-life
over three months, e.g. canned food. -The maximum penalty for
non-compliance with the registration requirement, without reasonable
excuse, will be a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six
months. -The maximum penalty for non-compliance with the
record-keeping requirement, without reasonable excuse, will be a fine at
level 3 ($10,000) and imprisonment for three months. -There would be a grace period of six months.
For details, please go to http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr09-10/english/bills/brief/b28_brf.pdf |