Nutrition Labelling Scheme enables healthier food choices (with photos)

The Nutrition Labelling Scheme effective on July 1 will enable consumers to make healthier food choices, with the nutrition labels on the prepackaged food carrying "1+7" nutrition information and nutrition claims being regulated, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, said at the opening ceremony of the Food Safety Day 2010 today (June 28).

The "1+7" nutrition information is the value of energy plus seven specified nutrients, including protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates, sugars and sodium.

The Nutrition Labelling Scheme aims to assist consumers in making informed food choices, to encourage food manufacturers to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods and to regulate misleading or deceptive labels and claims.

In drafting the Amendment Regulation, the Government has struck a balance between respecting consumers' right to information and the need to maintain diversified food choices.

Since the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008 ("the Amendment Regulation") was enacted in 2008, the Government has been taking various measures to help the trade comply with the Amendment Regulation and closely communicate with the trade through different channels.

The Nutrition Labelling Scheme will come into force on July 1 this year after a grace period of about two years. The trade is ready for complying with the new regulation, and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) stands ready on manpower deployment in enforcement work, including inspections at retail outlets and collecting samples for analysis.

The CFS launched a three-year publicity and education campaign on the Nutrition Labelling Scheme since 2008, and will continue to step up the publicity drive. New TV and radio announcements in public interest (APIs) were already running in early June. There will also be short radio programmes and display of posters in public transport and public housing estates.

Dr Chow pointed out that reading nutrition labels was not difficult, as the nutrition information was listed in a clear and easy way for consumers to understand. He reminded the public to build up healthy eating habits by understanding the nutritional value of the food through the nutrition labels.

"Aside from a balanced diet, food safety is also a concern. As such, we have introduced the Food Safety Bill into the Legislative Council. The purpose is to provide a food traceability mechanism to ensure that we can trace the source of the problem more effectively and efficiently in food incidents and eliminate food safety risk," said Dr Chow.

The Bill will also empower the Government to make regulations on the import control of specific food types especially those with higher risk, such as poultry eggs and aquatic products.

"We hope that the Bill will be passed soon so that the food safety level in Hong Kong can be further enhanced," he added.

Today's event marked the commencement of the third phase of the Nutrition Labelling Scheme publicity and education campaign. Dr Chow commended members of the Task Force on Nutrition Labelling Education for their support in promoting nutrition labelling and their invaluable views.

Ends/Monday, June 28, 2010

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, officiates at the opening ceremony of the Food Safety Day 2010 today (June 28). Other officiating guests include chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene Mr Fred Li and deputy-chairman Mr Wong Yung-kan; Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; Controller of the Centre for Food Safety, Dr Constance Chan; Head, Chinese Programme Service, Radio Television Hong Kong, Mr Philip Chow; Chairman, Expert Committee on Food Safety, Professor Kwan Hoi-shan; Principal Education Officer (Curriculum Development), Curriculum and Quality Assurance Branch, Education Bureau, Mr Tam Koon-che; Member of the Working Group on Information, Committee on Home-School Co-operation, Mr Christopher Yu; and representatives of members of the Task Force on Nutrition Labelling Education.

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, together with popular singer, Mr Hacken Lee, presents prizes to representatives (third to fifth left) of the winning schools in the Nutrition Label Creative T-shirt Design Competition.

Secondary students learn more about nutrition labels through taking part in a telematch with artistes.