Allergens to be noted on food labels in HK

Tuesday, 29 May 2007 01:23

The 3-year grace period for the Hong Kong’s allergen labelling laws will expire on July 9 this year.

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) Regulation requires the declaration on pre-packaged food labels the presence of the eight most common allergy causing substances, including cereals containing gluten, crustaceans and crustacean products, eggs and egg products, fish and fish products, milk and milk products (including lactose), tree nuts and nut products, peanuts, soybeans and their products as well as sulphites.

The food industry is required to take preventive measures such as thorough cleaning of production lines to control cross-contamination and undeclared allergens or else amend food labels to indicate the possible presence of allergens.

According to the press release issued in the newspaper ‘China Today’, the Hong Kong government will undertake different laboratory analyses, and use different methods before taking any prosecution action where undeclared allergens are suspected.

The maximum penalty for violating the regulation in Hong Kong is a fine of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars and six months' jail.