For those interested in Hong Kong immigration and life in Hong Kong: On December 11, 2013, according to the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety, in order to protect the health of infants and young children, the Hong Kong authorities are proposing legislative recommendations for formula milk products and foods intended for infants under 36 months of age, referencing the standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and considering international practices. The scope of regulation includes the nutritional composition of infant formula milk and the nutritional labeling of infant formula milk, follow-on formula milk, and other foods for infants and young children.
The key points of the legislative proposal are as follows:
1. Introduce nutritional composition regulations as specified by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for infant formula milk intended for consumption before the introduction of complementary foods;
2. Introduce nutritional labeling regulations for infant formula milk intended for consumption before the introduction of complementary foods, requiring these products to list the energy values and the contents of 33 nutrients as specified by the Codex Alimentarius Commission;
3. Introduce nutritional labeling regulations for follow-on formula milk intended for infants under 36 months of age, requiring these products to list the energy values and the contents of 25 nutrients as specified by the Codex Alimentarius Commission;
4. Introduce nutritional labeling regulations for foods intended for infants under 36 months of age, requiring these products to list the energy values and the contents of nutrients as specified by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and to indicate the sodium content of the products;
5. Provide the industry with a reasonable grace period. The authorities will consider whether the industry and testing laboratories are prepared for the proposed changes, as well as public expectations, before deciding on the length of the grace period.
Regarding nutritional claims, the regulation of nutritional claims is complex and controversial, and there is currently no international consensus on the regulation of such claims. To avoid delaying the regulation of the nutritional composition of infant formula milk and the nutritional labeling of formula milk products and foods intended for infants under 36 months of age, the Hong Kong authorities suggest addressing the regulation of claims at a later time.
The Hong Kong authorities conducted a two-month public consultation from November 20, 2012, to January 21, 2013, to gather public opinions. The majority supported the legislative proposal, with some requesting the authorities to expedite the passage of the proposal into law to ensure the safety of infants and young children. Therefore, the Hong Kong authorities are in the process of drafting legislation to submit to the Legislative Council for consideration.
