Chapter I - Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

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Organisation Chart Calendar of Events in 2006 ( Photo Version )

Established on 1 January 2000, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) provides a wide range of services from food surveillance and control to the planning, co-ordination and delivery of environmental hygiene services and public education on safe food and environmental cleanliness.

With some 11 000 staff, the Department delivers its services through the Centre for Food Safety, the Environmental Hygiene Branch and the Administration and Development Branch.

FEHD Organisation Chart

Date	Event
January
5 January	The promotion phase of the Anti-rodent Campaign ends on 5 January. It focuses on rural areas, such as hiking trails and villages frequented by visitors. A 12-month pilot study on maintaining rat-free villages is also launched during the campaign period.
5 and 6 January	The Food Research Laboratory succeeds in reaffirming its accreditation status and extending its accreditation to cover the testing of 10 core nutritional parameters under the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme, following a reassessment visit by Hong Kong Accreditation Services.
6 to 26 January	The territory-wide Year-end Clean-up 2006 is conducted to improve the cleanliness of Hong Kong's living environment.
10 January	A series of workshops and seminars on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point-based (HACCP) Food Safety Plan on "poon choi" is organised from November 2005 to February 2006.
13 to 17 January	The Food Research Laboratory represents FEHD to participate in a joint exhibition under the "Science in the Public Service" campaign and present a lecture entitled "Risk of High Temperature Cooking - How Modern Technology Is Applied to Food Safety".
16 January	Phases 1B and 1C of the Licensing Management Information System are launched for processing new applications for licences/permits and amendments for valid licences/permits.
23 January	Lunar New Year Fairs in 12 districts are arranged by the Department for 7 days.
26 January	Che Kung Festival Fair in Sha Tin District is arranged by the Department for 18 days.
29 January	Fong Ma Po Fair in Tai Po District is arranged by the Department for 15 days.
February
1 February	A joint office with the Buildings Department is set up in Eastern District to handle water seepage complaints.
20 February	Chief Veterinarian and Director of the Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Jia You Ling, visits the Food Research Laboratory.
27 February to 25 March	The first phase of the Anti-mosquito Campaign 2006 is launched to raise public awareness and encourage community participation in implementing mosquito control and prevention measures, and to strengthen co-operation between government departments.
March
1 March	A joint office with the Buildings Department is set up in Kowloon City District to handle the water seepage complaints.
1 March	Communication Resource Unit achieves the ISO 9001:2000 certification requirement on the design and provision of public enquiry and telephone hotline services.
6 March	Suspension of live food poultry importation until 25 March due to a case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Guangdong Province.
11 and 25 March	Train-the-trainer workshops on nutrition labelling are held for secondary school teachers. The workshops are jointly organised by the Department, the former Education and Manpower Bureau and the Department of Health.
21 March	The results of a study on nutrient values of congee, rice and noodle dishes are announced.
22 March	Train-the-trainer workshops on nutrition labelling continue throughout March to December for members of women's associations.
24 March	The Department announces extension of the rental freeze for all public markets to the end of June 2008.
27 March to 13 April	A territory-wide thematic operation is launched to focus on mosquito prevention and control in strategic areas including village houses and problematic spots.
April
1 April	Joint offices with the Buildings Department are set up in Wanchai, Kwun Tong and Mong Kok districts to handle water seepage complaints.
1 April	Amendments to the Swimming Pools Regulation to upgrade the qualifications requirement of life saving attendants for private swimming pools from holding a bronze medallion to holding a pool lifeguard award issued by the Hong Kong Life Saving Society come into effect.
11 April	A delegation from the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Department attends the first working meeting on Exchanges and Co-operation in Food Safety for Hong Kong/Guangdong in Guangzhou.
24 April	Pest Control Advisory Section achieves the ISO 9001:2000 certification on the design and provision of specimen identification service and advice regarding taxonomic service.
24 April to 30 June	The second phase of the Anti-mosquito Campaign commences, focusing on the importance of eliminating mosquito breeding places during the rainy season.
25 April	Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue visits the Department to learn more about its daily operation.
27 April	The Food Research Laboratory represents FEHD to present a lecture entitled "Application of Modern Technology in Food Safety: Chloropropanols in Sauces" in the symposium under the "Science in the Public Service" campaign.
27 April	A briefing session on Influenza Pandemic, is jointly organised by the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, the Centre for Health Protection and the Department, for food traders.
May
2 May	The Centre for Food Safety is established.
9 May	The "Study of Ochratoxin A in Food" is presented to the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene.
12 May	The Public Health and Municipal Services (Amendment) Ordinance 2006 comes into effect. It empowers the government without notice to take action for preventing the breeding of mosquitoes where there is a mosquito-related health hazard.
28 May	The Food Research Laboratory represents FEHD in the "A New Scientific Hong Kong" radio programme broadcast at RTHK Radio 1 under the "Science in the Public Service" campaign.
June
5 June	To cope with the increasing number of food complaints and to strengthen complaint management, the Food Complaint Unit is established under the Food Surveillance and Control Division of the Centre for Food Safety.
7 and 8 June	Representatives of the former Health Welfare and Food Bureau and the Department meet in Dongguan with representatives of the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureaux from Guangdong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai on hygiene, animal inspection and quarantine, and food safety issues.
16 June	Live food poultry importation is suspended until 5 July due to a case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Guangdong Province.
July
1 July	Joint offices with the Buildings Department are set up in Central/Western, Southern, Islands, Wong Tai Sin, Yau Tsim, Sha Tin, Tai Po, North, Yuen Long, Sai Kung, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Kwai Tsing districts to handle water seepage complaints.
10 July to 4 August	A territory-wide thematic operation is launched to focus on enhanced mosquito prevention and control works in strategic areas including old tenement buildings, open spaces in the vicinity of pig farms, sites with gatherings of migratory birds and problematic spots.
10 July to 5 August	The enhancement phase of the Anti-rodent Campaign is launched to step up rodent control in and around villages with persistent rodent problems and to reinforce the prevention message for rural area visitors and villagers.
11 July	The "Study on Dietary Exposure to DTT of Secondary School Students" is presented to the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene.
28 July	The first Trade Consultation Forum of the Centre for Food Safety is held to strengthen collaboration with the food trade and enhance food safety.
28 July	The Centre for Food Safety issues "Guidelines on Voluntary Labelling of Genetically Modified (GM) Food".
August
1 August	The Food Safety Control Electronic Information Delivery System is extended to cover the food trade. Food traders who join the system can receive information on food safety issues through e-mails.
14 August to 6 October	The third phase of the Anti-mosquito Campaign highlights the risk of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis and seeks community support in controlling mosquito vectors.
16 August	The first issue of a new monthly e-publication entitled "Food Safety Focus" is released to serve as a new channel of communication between the Centre for Food Safety, the trade and the public.
18 August	The Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2006 comes into effect. Fresh provision shops and market stalls are no longer allowed to sell both fresh and chilled beef/mutton/pork on the same premises, unless the chilled beef/mutton/pork being sold on the premises is prepackaged with prescribed labels before delivery to the premises.
19 August	The Consumer Liaison Group formed under the Centre for Food Safety holds its first meeting to solicit public views on various food safety issues.
23 August	Chief Executive Donald Tsang visits the FEHD to better understand its various services.
23 August	Importation of chilled pork from the Mainland into Hong Kong commences.
26 August	The Food Safety Day 2006 is held in a shopping centre to promote prevention of cross contamination of food. A series of education programmes are organised throughout the territory from August to October.
September
27 September	A series of focus group meetings are organised for members of the Consumer Liaison Group from September to collect opinions on food safety issues.
29 September	A series of workshops and seminars on the HACCP-based Food Safety Plan are organised for food handlers working in elderly homes from September to December.
October
10 October	The Expert Committee on Food Safety holds its first meeting. The committee experts are to advise the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene on food safety issues.
13 October	The results of a joint study on acrylamide in fried and baked foods are announced by the Centre for Food Safety and the Consumer Council.
23 October to 1 December	A territory-wide thematic operation is launched to step up mosquito control measures around village houses; passenger, cargo and container terminals; old tenement buildings and other problematic spots.
24 October	Pilot study of Radio Frequency Identification in live pigs imported from Guangdong is launched at Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse.
31 October	The departmental publicity vehicle, the Mobile Education Centre, tasked to enhance the outreach efforts in promoting food safety and environmental hygiene messages becomes operational.
November
7 to 10 November	The Department commissions the New South Wales Food Authority of Australia to design and conduct two workshops on "Food Safety Risk Communication". The 107 participants come from the Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene, the Expert Committee on Food Safety, the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, the Department of Health, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Government Laboratory and FEHD.
13 November	119 Health Inspectors II are recruited.
19 November	A series of train-the-trainer workshops on GM foods for members of Parent-Teacher Associations starts in November.
20 and 21 November	A Veterinary Public Health Workshop is held with scientists and government officials from the Mainland, United Kingdom and New Zealand as speakers.
20 to 25 November	An FEHD delegation on audit inspection visits cattle farms, slaughtering and processing plants in Japan.
27 November	A seminar on climate and mosquito-borne diseases and control of Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya and dengue vectors is held for representatives of government departments and the trade.
27 November	Import of live freshwater fish from the Mainland is suspended by the trade after the Centre for Food Safety detected malachite green in freshwater fish samples.
December
1 December	The Department closes the decommissioned Soy Street Temporary Cooked Food Market in Mong Kok.
11 December	Import of live marine fish from the Mainland is suspended till 12 December due to strengthened inspections by Mainland authorities.
12 to 21 December	The Centre for Food Safety mounts a series of joint operations with Police and the Customs and Excise Department to curb importation of freshwater fish originating from unregistered fish farms in the Mainland and not accompanied with a health certificate.
14 December	The Centre for Food Safety starts public consultation on amendments to the Preservatives in Food Regulations.
16 December	Supply of live freshwater fish from the Mainland resumes.
28 December	The Department steps up the ante- and post-mortem inspections of pigs in slaughterhouses following reports of the deaths of two pig farmers linked to a pneumonia-like illness.
28 December	The Centre for Food Safety announces the results of a risk assessment study on microbiological quality of pre-cut fruits for sale or serving in retail outlets.
29 December	The Centre for Food Safety implements a Voluntary Enrolment Scheme for egg importers as an initial step in regulating poultry egg imports. A list of the first batch of enrolled egg importers is uploaded onto the Centre website.