| Date |
Event |
| 2 January to 6 March |
The promotion phase of the Anti-rodent Campaign 2009 is launched, targeting markets, market buildings, hawker bazaars, typhoon shelters, food premises, rear lanes close to food premises, and other problematic spots identified in 19 districts. |
| 20 to 26 January |
Lunar New Year Fairs are held in 12 districts. |
| 26 January to 9 February |
Lunar New Year Festival Fairs are held in Sha Tin (Che Kung Temple) and Tai Po (Lam Tsuen). |
| 3 February |
Cloacal swabs samples are collected from every consignment of imported poultry for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test after H5N1 virus has been found locally in the duck carcass in Sha Lo Wan, Lantau Island. |
| 9 February |
The website of the Centre for Food Safety receives the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2008: Best Public Service Application (Most Favored) Certificate of Merit Award. |
| 1 March |
Letting of long-standing vacant market stalls at reduced upset prices is introduced. |
| 2 to 27 March |
The first phase of the Anti-mosquito Campaign 2009 is launched to arouse public awareness and encourage community participation in implementing mosquito control and prevention. |
| 12 March |
The three-year (2008-2011) Nutrition Labelling Publicity and Education Campaign is officially launched. |
| 16 March |
The Centre for Food Safety and the Consumer Council release results of a joint study on sodium content of savoury snacks in Hong Kong. |
| 27 and 28 March |
The Centre for Food Safety, in collaboration with the European Commission, organises a 2-day Regional Symposium on Regulation of Pesticide Residues in Food in Hong Kong. |
| 1 April |
The Centre for Food Safety announces results of a study on nutrient contents of common non-prepackaged beverages in Hong Kong. |
| 18 April |
The Kimberley Street Market is de-commissioned. |
| 24 April to 14 May |
Applications for 61 Itinerant (Frozen Confectionery) Hawker Licences are invited. |
| 27 April to 3 July |
The second phase of the Anti-mosquito Campaign commences, focusing on the importance of elimination of mosquito breeding places during the rainy season. |
| 29 April |
The Centre for Food Safety announces results of a study on polybrominated diphenyl ethers in foods of animal origin. |
| 1 to 8 May |
Massive cleansing and disinfection operations are carried out in Metro Park Hotel in Wan Chai under quarantine following the confirmation of the first imported case of human swine influenza. |
| 7 May |
The Centre for Food Safety announces results of a study on safety of instant cup noodle containers. |
| 8 May |
The Public Health and Municipal Services (Amendment) Ordinance 2009, concerning food recall, is gazetted and becomes effective. |
| 9 to 15 May |
Three million copies of "Keep Clean Be Healthy" booklets are distributed to the public and all households of the territory to tie in with the launching of "Clean Hong Kong Day" on 10 May to combat human swine influenza. |
| 20 May |
The Centre for Food Safety announces results of a study on aluminium in food. |
| 1 June |
The Centre for Food Safety announces results of a study on safety of irradiated food. |
| 1 July |
Pilot schemes allowing designated vacant stalls to operate service trades or light refreshment and bakery are introduced in six selected public markets. |
| 6 July to 4 September |
The enhancement phase of the Anti-rodent Campaign is launched to sustain and consolidate the work carried out during the promotion phase and to strengthen rodent control work in markets, market buildings, hawker bazaars, typhoon shelters, food premises and lanes in close vicinity and other problematic spots. |
| 8 July |
The Centre for Food Safety announces results of a study on trans fatty acids in local food. |
| 8 July |
The Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2009, which forbids any person to extract, supply, deliver or use seawater from specified prohibited areas for keeping live fish or shellfish in the course of food business for human consumption, is passed by the Legislative Council. The Regulation will come into effect on 1 August 2010. |
| 11 July |
Food Safety Day 2009 with the theme "Turn and Look for Healthier Food Choices" is held at a shopping mall. |
| 13 July |
A series of food hygiene seminars for trade and public is conducted from July to December to promote food safety. |
| 14 July |
The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approves funding of $99 million for implementing a series of special measures to enhance the environmental hygiene of the community in order to combat the spread of human swine influenza. |
| 28 July |
The first new Itinerant Hawker Licence (Frozen Confectionery) is issued. |
| 1 August |
Street washing services to backlanes in the vicinity of food premises, hawker concentrated areas and public markets are reinforced with the use of high pressure hot water cleaners for a period of 12 months. Frequency of daily routine cleansing and weekly deep cleansing of aqua privies and public toilets without attendants are also increased for the same period. |
| 17 August to 9 October |
The third phase of the Anti-mosquito Campaign is launched to highlight the risk of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis and sustain community effort in controlling the vectors. |
| 1 September |
The Small Volume Exemption Office for processing applications for exemption from meeting nutrition labelling requirements commences operation. |
| 5 September |
A series of food safety educational programmes for hotels and caterers of the 2009 East Asian Games is organised from September to November. |
| 11 September |
Representatives of the Food and Health Bureau and the Department meet in Zhuhai with representatives of the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureaux from Guangdong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai as well as representatives from the Civic Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of Macao to discuss health, animal and plant quarantine and food safety control issues. |
| 17 September |
The Centre for Food Safety holds the Food Safety Seminar for Trade cum Food Safety Charter 2009 Presentation Ceremony at the Hong Kong Central Library. |
| 17 September to 15 October |
11 consultation meetings are held to obtain views from members of district councils in the Market Management Consultative Committees, representatives of market tenants, market trader organisations and trade associations. |
| 18 September |
The Centre for Food Safety announces results of a study on ethyl carbamate in local fermented food. |
| 29 September |
The Department receives the Merit Award of "Partnership Award (Science in the Public Service)" in the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2009. |
| 12 to 18 October |
A delegation from the Centre for Food Safety conducts audit inspections on cattle slaughtering and processing plants and cattle farms in the US. |
| 4 and 5 November |
The Veterinary Public Health Workshop on various topics related to food safety is held with experts from the Mainland, Food and Agriculture Organization, Singapore, the US, the UK and New Zealand as speakers. |
| 14 to 21 November |
A delegation from the Centre for Food Safety conducts audit inspections on cattle, sheep, pig and chicken slaughtering and processing plants, butter factory, and cattle, sheep and chicken farms in New Zealand. |
| 16 November |
The Centre for Food Safety and the Consumer Council announce results of a joint study on sugars content of prepackaged non-alcoholic beverages in Hong Kong. |
| 1 December |
The Department provides one-off clean-up services to common areas of private buildings without management bodies, enhances clean-up of environmental hygiene black spots and sustains the enhanced level of public cleansing services for a period of 12 months. |
| 5 to 13 December |
The Department is tasked to ensure food safety and environmental hygiene for the 2009 East Asian Games. |
| 5, 14 and 19 December |
Three district retreats are held to invite representatives of district councils, area committees, market tenants, market trader organisations and trade associations to give views on market improvement measures and design concepts of new public markets. |
