Food Legislation / Guidelines

The basic food law in Hong Kong is laid down in Part V of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132). The main provisions cover general protection for food purchasers, offences in connection with sale of unfit food and adulterated food, composition and labelling of food, food hygiene, seizure and destruction of unfit food. Controls in specific areas are provided in subsidiary legislation under the Ordinance as detailed below.

Another food law in Hong Kong, the Food Safety Ordinance (Cap. 612), provides new food safety control measures, including a registration scheme for food importers and food distributors and a requirement for food traders to maintain proper records of the movements of food to enhance food traceability. It also empowers the authorities to make regulations for tightening import control on specific food types and to make orders to prohibit the import and supply of problem food and order the recall of such food.

Food Laws

Main Ordinances

• Part V of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132)
• Food Safety Ordinance (Cap. 612)

Related documents

• Guide to Import of Food into Hong Kong
• Food Recall Guidelines
• Code of Practice on Food Safety Orders

Regulations

1. Colouring Matter in Food Regulations (Cap.132H)

   Related document

   • Powerpoint of "Permitted colouring matter: Natural colours" presented in the Seventeenth Meeting held on 22 May 2009
2. Dried Milk Regulations (Cap.132R)
3. Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Cap.132U)
4. Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap.132V)

Related document

• Guidelines on the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) (Amendment) Regulation 2018
1. Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap.132W) 

   Related documents

   • Technical Guidance Notes on Nutritional Composition and Nutrition Labelling of Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula and Prepackaged Food for Infants and Young Children
   • Method Guidance Notes on Nutritional Composition and Nutrition Labelling of Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula and Prepackaged Food for Infants and Young Children
   • Technical Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims
   • Method Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims
   • Guide to Application for Small Volume Exemption (PDF)
   • Labelling Guidelines on Food Allergens, Food Additives and Date form
2. Food Business Regulation (Cap.132X)

   Related documents

   • Trade Guidelines on Safe Production of Chinese Cold Dishes
   • Guidelines for Safe Preparation and Handling of Poached Chicken - A Guide to Food Factory, Foodservice and Retail Outlets
   • Trade Guidelines on Safe Production of Rice and Noodles
   • Code of Hygienic Practice for Aseptically Processed and Packaged Low-Acid Food
3. Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap.132AC)

   Related documents

   • Guide to Import of Frozen Confections into Hong Kong
4. Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap.132AF) 

   Related document

   • Guidelines on the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2021
5. Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap.132AK)

   Related documents

   • Guide to Import of Mainland Chilled Chickens into Hong Kong
   • Guide to Import of Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs into Hong Kong
   • Guide to Application for Import Licence for Frozen Meat, Chilled Meat, Frozen Poultry and Chilled Poultry
6. Milk Regulation (Cap.132AQ)

   Related documents

   • Guide to Import of Milk and Milk Beverages into Hong Kong
7. Mineral Oil in Food Regulations (Cap.132AR)
8. Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap.132BD)

   Related documents

   • Preservatives and Antioxidants User Guidelines
9. Slaughterhouses Regulation (Cap.132BU)
10. Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM)

Amendments to Legislations

• Previous Amendments
  • Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2021 to commence in phases in 2023 
  • Amendment Regulation came into operation on 1 November 2019 under the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V)
  • Amendment (No. 2) Regulation on nutrition composition and nutrition labelling of infant formula came into operation on 13 December 2015 under Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W). Amendment (No. 2) Regulation on follow-up formulae and prepackaged food for infants and young children came into operation on 13 June 2016 under Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W).
  • Amendment Regulation came into force on 5 December 2015 under Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations (Cap.132 AK)
  • Amendment Regulation came into force on 24 March 2014 under Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulation (Cap.132W)
  • Amendment Regulation came into force on 1 March 2012 under Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap.132AF)
  • Amendment Ordinance came into force on 1 August 2011 under Public Health and Municipal Services (Amendment) Ordinance 2009 (Cap.132)
  • Amendment Regulation came into force on 1 August 2010 under Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Cap.132U)
  • Amendment Regulation came into force on 1 July 2010 under Presevatives in Food Regulation (Cap.132BD)
  • Amendment Ordinance came into force on 1 July 2010 Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance 2008(Amendment to the Chinese rendition of"Use by"date on labels of prepackaged foods)
  • Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008
  • Amendment Regulation came into force on 1 December 2008 under Colouring Matter in Food Regulation (Cap.132H)
  • Amendment Regulations came into force on 23 September 2008 under Harmful Substances in Food Regulation (Cap.132AF)
• Proposed Regulatory Framework on Nutrition and Health Claims on Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula, and Prepackaged Foods for Infants and Young Children Under the Age of 36 Months in Hong Kong
• Legislative Proposals on Regulation of Edible Fats and Oils and Recycling of "Waste Cooking Oils"
• Proposed Amendments to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD)

Guidelines for Trade

1. A Practical Food Safety Guide for Food Recovery Programmes 
2. Salad - Food safety Guidelines for Food Businesses 
3. Online Grocery Shopping and Delivery - Food Safety Advice for Food Businesses and Consumers 
4. Salt lodisation - A Practical Guide for Salt Importers, Wholesalers and Retailers 
5. Oysters Intended for Raw Consumption - Food Safety Guidelines for Food Businesses 
6. Beef Burgers - Food Safety Guidelines for Food Businesses
7. Eggs and Egg Products - Food Safety Guidelines for Food Businesses
8. Guidance for Trade on the Prevention and Reduction of Aflatoxin Contamination in Peanuts 
9. Guidance to Replace Industrially-produced Trans Fats in Food 
10. Trade Guidelines on the Use of Deep-frying Oil  
11. Trade Guidelines on Providing Consumer Advice on High-risk Foods on Menus 
    • labels of consumer advice for downloading 
12. Technical Guidance Notes on Nutritional Composition and Nutrition Labelling of Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula and Prepackaged Food for Infants and Young Children
13. Method Guidance Notes on Nutritional Composition and Nutrition Labelling of Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula and Prepackaged Food for Infants and Young Children
14. Trade Guidelines for Reducing Sugars and Fats in Foods
15. Trade Guidelines for Reducing Sodium in Foods
16. Trade Guidelines on Preparation of Legible Food Label
17. Trade Guidelines on Safe Production of Non-prepackaged Beverages
18. Trade Guidelines on Safe Production of Buns and Sandwiches
19. Trade Guidelines on Safe Production of Sweet Food
20. A Guide for Food service and Retail Outlets - Practise Food Hygiene to Prevent Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E
21. Trade Guidelines on Reducing Acrylamide in Food
22. Trade Guidelines on Safe Production of Chinese Cold Dishes
23. Guidelines on the Use of Disposable Tray Liners
24. Guidelines to the Trade on Reducing the Level of Ethyl Carbamate in Alcoholic Beverages during Storage and Transport
25. Guidelines on the Use of Aluminium-containing Food Additives
26. Guidelines for Safe Preparation and Handling of Poached Chicken - A Guide to Food Factory, Foodservice and Retail Outlets
27. Guidelines for Safe Preparation and Handling of Poached Chicken - A Guide to Consumer
28. Trade Guidelines on Safe Production of Rice and Noodles
29. Preservatives and Antioxidants User Guidelines
30. Technical Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims
31. Method Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims
32. Guide to Application for Small Volume Exemption (PDF)
33. Guidelines on the Use of Disposable Plastic Containers
34. Labelling Guidelines on Food Allergens, Food Additives and Date format
35. Guidelines on Voluntary Labelling of Genetically Modified (GM) Food
36. Microbiological Guidelines for Food
37. Guide to Import of Mainland Chilled Chickens into Hong Kong
38. Guide to Import of Food into Hong Kong
39. Guide to Import of Milk and Milk Beverages into Hong Kong
40. Guide to Import of Frozen Confections into Hong Kong
41. Guide to Import of Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs into Hong Kong
42. Guide to Import of Marine Products into Hong Kong
43. Guide to Application for Import Licence for Frozen Meat, Chilled Meat, Frozen Poultry and Chilled Poultry
44. Food Recall Guidelines
45. Code of Hygienic Practice for Aseptically Processed and Packaged Low-Acid Foods
46. Monitoring Pesticides Residues in Food
47. CODE OF PRACTICE - Import and Sale of Live Marine Fish for Human Consumption
48. Code of Practice on Food Safety Orders
49. Trade Guidelines on Serving Size of Prepackaged Food For Nutrition Labelling
50. A Guide to the Registration Scheme for Food Importers and Food Distributors
51. Code of Practice on Keeping Records Relating to Food