As far as the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is concerned, 2006 could best be described by a quote from Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities - "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". Indeed, 2006 has been an extraordinary year for the Department. Whilst it saw good progress being made in some areas of our services, there were also areas where we had fallen short. The year was also characterised by a series of crisis, some of which had been dealt with more successfully than others. On the whole, it was an unusual year for the Department but also a most challenging one for all of us.
The year marked the establishment of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) amidst a series of food incidents that were causing public concern. It is therefore significant to note that, since its establishment on
May 2, the CFS has initiated a process of transformation which not only changed its outlook but also brought new thinking and directions in its operations. More importantly, it signified a fundamental change in culture of the way we handle food surveillance, food incidents, risk communication, food standards, etc.
During the year, the CFS established an Expert Committee on Food Safety with participation by various experts from the academia, and other relevant fields, including overseas experts to give advice on the formulation of food safety measures and the review of food safety standards. To underline the importance of a tripartite relationship among the Government, the industry and the consumers in ensuring food safety, the CFS instituted a series of regular consultation forums with the key stakeholders to listen to their views as well as to explain current policies and practices. The CFS also developed multiple communication avenues, including online newsletter of Food Safety Focus, to update the trade and the public on food incidents and food safety information. All in all, the CFS is now a very proactive agency with a much strengthened capacity in dealing with food safety issues.
The Sudan dyes incident, which occurred towards the end of the year, was most unfortunate. But it gave us food for thought and an opportune time to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of our system. The way we disseminated information to the public needed to be improved. Valuable lessons have been learnt and we are now able to respond quickly and efficiently to food incidents, and hence, the public's anxiety on the safety of the food they eat.
On the environmental hygiene front, the department remains as vigilant as ever in the fight against avian flu and mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis. The import control and inspection for imported poultry as well as the preventive measures adopted at the poultry retail outlets continued to remain effective in our defenses against the risk of an outbreak of avian flu in 2006. As with mosquito problems, this could not be achieved without the cooperation and support of the people of Hong Kong. And continuous and concerted anti-mosquito efforts also paid off, with no local case of dengue fever or Japanese encephalitis being recorded in the year.
In looking to the future, further enhancement of the food safety regulatory framework will remain high on the agenda for 2007. This will include:
- establishing a regulatory regime to control pesticide residues in food
- reviewing the standards on preservatives
- formulating a food safety law which would bring under import regulation food which has higher safety risk or of wide public concern, including aquatic products, vegetables and fruits. The legislation would also enhance the capability of food traceability and put in place a food recall system
Environmental hygiene-related initiatives for 2007 include:
- introducing a composite licence for the manufacture and sale of various types of ready-to-eat food
- promoting the use of eco-coffins and alternatives for handling cremated human ashes, including the scattering of ashes at sea and garden of remembrance, to address persistent shortage of niches
These are just some of our action plans that we will be taking forward in the new year to uphold our mission of ensuring food safety and maintaining a clean and hygienic living environment for the people of Hong Kong.
But plans will remain plans until they are translated into concrete actions. To implement these plans and to execute them efficiently and effectively will require the concerted efforts of all our staff who share the departmental vision and mission. As Director, I am firmly committed to the provision of management training so that our staff could be well equipped in facing new challenges and continue to provide quality services to the public in a rapidly changing environment.
Lastly but not least, I owe a debt of gratitude to all my staff who had worked tirelessly during the year to achieve our departmental targets. The diversity of the services that we provide is a challenge to us all. But it is also our strength. Let us draw on our strength and let it be a source of pride and inspiration in the delivery of our services.
Eddy Chan
Director
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department