Application for Exemption from Nutrition Labelling
under the Small Volume Exemption Scheme
The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008 has been effected on 1 July 2010. Under the Small Volume Exemption (SVE) Scheme, prepackaged foods of the same version with annual sales volume in Hong Kong not exceeding 30,000 units may be granted with exemption from providing nutrition labelling. Relevant importers (for imported products) or manufacturers (for local products) can apply for such exemption from the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
The System for Small Volume Exemption (SSVE), which is an one-stop electronic communication platform between grantees of SVE from nutrition labelling products and CFS of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, was rolled out on 30 December 2022.
Applicant may make use of the SSVE to apply for exemption by electronic means. All SVE grantees are eligible to use online services to handle matters related to SVE products. After the first application, each grantee will be allocated with one account. The grantees may use this account for future online applications via SSVE website (https://www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk/ssve/). The SSVE operating 24 hours a day (except during system maintenance) provides various functions of online services, including:
- Processing of application for exemption and renewal of exemption;
- Payment of fees;
- Monthly reporting of sales volume;
- Product enquiry and updating the information on the exempted products; and
- Updating the information of company and user account;
Apart from the above, grantees may make use of the SSVE to check the exemption products, apply for amendment and cancellation of application. Grantees may also check the cumulative sales volume of a product when it has reached 70%, 90% and over 30,000 units. CFS will issue notifications relating to exemption SVE applications through the SSVE
To submit the application of SVE, applicant may also complete the manual application form FEHB233(4/2012). Applicant may refer to the "Guide to Application for Small Volume Exemption" before completing the application form.
The manual form FEHB233 (4/2012) can be downloaded here and also be obtained from the following CFS's offices:
i. CFS Headquarters at 43/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong;
ii. Food Labelling Unit at 2/F, 4 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong; and
iii. Small Volume Exemption Office at G/F and Basement, Carson Mansion, 121 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong.
Each application form is used for one product only. Applicant should complete separate forms if applying for exemption for more than one product. Alternatively, applicant may complete supplementary sheets for Part D & Part E of the application form for each additional product and attach to the application form.
Completed application form together with prerequisite documents and supplementary sheets for Part D & Part E , if any, should be returned to Small Volume Exemption Office at G/F and Basement, Carson Mansion, 121 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong by post, fax (fax no. 3105 0457 / 3105 0458 ) or in person.
If the trade has any enquiries concerning the application, please call the Small Volume Exemption Office at 3583 3653.