The Centre for Food Safety (CFS), established in 2006, is tasked to enhance food safety regulatory functions to raise public confidence in the level of food safety.
The CFS has nine sections responsible for various tasks, including food surveillance and certification, exercising import control and conducting inspections and tests on live food animals, assessing risks of certain categories of food, and disseminating food safety information. It also investigates food poisoning outbreaks on food premises and advises on food standards.
Safety Control of Imported Food
As most food supplies originate from outside Hong Kong, import control is an important part of the CFS's work.
The control process - comprising a pre-entry licensing system, verification of health documents and surveillance at import control points - basically applies to certain categories of high-risk food, such as game, meat, poultry, milk and frozen confections.
Safety Control of Imported Food in 2012
| Applications approved for import licence for frozen/chilled meat and poultry | 89,451 |
| Applications approved for import of game, meat and poultry | 2,943 |
| Applications approved for import of milk and milk products | 310 |
| Applications approved for import of frozen confections | 171 |
| Number of vehicles carrying vegetables inspected by the Man Kam To Food Control Office | 28,890 |
Part of the day-to-day task of ensuring food safety involves close liaison with consulates, Mainland and overseas food authorities, importers, the Customs and Excise Department and other relevant organisations.
Food Surveillance and Handling Food Complaints
Continuous monitoring, testing and law enforcement are keys to ensuring the safety of Hong Kong's food supplies. Food samples are tested at every stage in the supply process: from import and manufacture to wholesale and retail.
During the year, about 64,900 samples of food were taken for testing, which is about nine samples for every 1,000 people in Hong Kong.
Food samples undergo microbiological examinations, chemical analyses and radiation level tests to assess their conformity to legal standards and labelling requirements.
The Man Kam To Food Laboratory provides expeditious and comprehensive testing services, mainly on fresh produce imported from the Mainland. The testing services are divided into three categories:
(i) Analysis of pesticide residues in fresh vegetables and fruits. Testing parameters include isocarbophos, methamidophos and other organophosphorous pesticides, N-methyl carbamates and pyrethroids.
(ii) Analysis of veterinary drug residues in raw milk. Testing parameters include aminoglycosides, B-lactams, chloramphenicol, clenbuterol, lincomycin, macrolides, polypeptides, quinolones, spectinomycin, sulfonamides, synthetic hormones, tetracyclines and trimethoprim.
(iii) Analysis of melamine in samples of raw milk and pasteurised milk imported from the Mainland.
The data collected through the Food Surveillance Programme is reviewed and analysed regularly to help topical studies, in addition to assessing the risk of specific foods and formulation of food safety strategies.
In 2012, a total of 5,261 food complaints were handled.
Statistics on the Food Surveillance Programme in 2012
(A) Testing of food samples
| Testing | Number# | Percentage# |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical | ||
| Test conducted | 43,984 | - |
| Satisfactory | 43,892 | 99.8% |
| Microbiological | ||
| Test conducted | 16,869 | - |
| Satisfactory | 16,829 | 99.8% |
| Radiation level | ||
| Test conducted | 4,121 | - |
| Satisfactory | 4,121 | 100% |
# Excluding 50,414 samples of imported Japanese food tested for radiation level in 2012.
(B) Enforcement of food labelling
| Food labels inspected | 55,200 |
| Written warnings issued | 204 |
| Prosecutions taken out | 49 |
Management of Food Incidents
The CFS monitors food incidents, both local and overseas, on a daily basis. Around 1,000 food incidents were identified in 2012. Upon identifying food incidents, the CFS will consider factors such as risk to consumers, local regulations and availability of the concerned food product before deciding on the most appropriate risk management actions.
Besides, the CFS will communicate with related health authorities, importers and distributors on the food incidents. If necessary, the CFS will take actions such as requesting the trade to stop sale, conducting testing as and when appropriate, issuing warning letters and recalling products. The CFS will issue rapid alert to traders and inform them of the latest situation. It will also issue press releases to provide advice for consumers if the food incidents are of major public health concern locally. In addition, information on food incidents that are assessed to have limited local impact has been provided through the "Food Incident Post" on the CFS website since September 2012 to alert individuals who might be in possession of related food products through e-trade, travel, or other personal reasons. About 350 trade alerts and 15 press releases on food incidents were issued by the CFS in 2012.
Staffed by doctors and nurses, the Food Incidents Response and Management Unit of the Risk Management Section, in collaboration with the Centre for Health Protection, investigates outbreaks of food poisoning and food-borne infectious diseases on food premises, identifies the contributing factors and assists in tracing sources of suspected food. The unit also educates the food handlers about food, personal and environmental hygiene. Around 400 investigations were carried out by the unit into food-borne diseases in 2012. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common causative agents in food poisoning outbreaks related to food premises. Common contributing factors identified during investigations included cross contamination of ready-to-eat food by raw food, inadequate cooking, improper holding temperatures and contamination by food handlers.
Food Safety Ordinance
The Food Safety Ordinance (Chapter 612), which strengthens food safety control to protect public health, commenced full operation on 1 February 2012 following a six-month grace period. The new Ordinance introduces a food tracing mechanism to help the Government trace the source of the food more effectively and take prompt action when dealing with food incidents. The food tracing mechanism includes a registration scheme for food importers and food distributors and a record-keeping requirement relating to movement of food. Under the Ordinance, food importers and distributors, other than those who have already registered or obtained a licence under other ordinances listed at Schedule 1 of the Ordinance, have to register with the Department. The Ordinance also provides power for the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene to make food safety orders to prohibit the import and supply of problem food and order the recall of such food. By the end of 2012, 5,318 food importers and 4,963 food distributors have been registered.
Safety Control of Live Food Animals
The Veterinary Public Health Section (VPHS) and the Slaughterhouse (Veterinary) Section are mainly responsible for import control and conducting disease surveillance programmes on live food animals with public health significance.
Implementing the concept of "from farm to table", veterinary staff members visit registered farms exporting to Hong Kong to ensure that good husbandry practices are in place. In 2012, VPHS inspected a total of 75 registered farms and 31 processing plants in the Mainland. These included farms of chickens, ducks, pigeons, geese, pigs, cattle, fish, shellfish and hairy crabs.
During the year, 3.5 million live chickens and other poultry were imported into Hong Kong. These animals were subjected to quarantine and inspection procedures by VPHS staff at the designated entry point -- Man Kam To Control Point.
Number of imported food poultry inspected and blood samples tested in 2012
| Type of poultry | No. of poultry imported | No. of blood samples tested | No. of animal health certificates verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens and other poultry | 3,540,141 | 46,303 | 2,191 |
Number of local and imported food animals inspected in 2012
| Type of animal | No. of animals inspected | No. of animal health certificates verified |
|---|---|---|
| Pigs | 1,638,233 | 38,039 health certificates and |
| 9,031 admission forms for local pigs | ||
| Cattle | 26,032 | 2,352 health certificates |
| Goats | 8,954 | 82 health certificates and 1 admission form for local goats |
| No. of urine samples collected in food animals for testing of prohibited and restricted chemicals | 52,408 |
The Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues) Regulation prohibits the use of certain chemicals, including clenbuterol, and restricts the residue levels of a number of chemicals in food animals. In 2012, one consignment of pig was tested positive for prohibited chemicals during the urine compliance tests. During the same period, 8,096 tissues and blood samples were collected from food animals for testing of veterinary drug residues and for disease surveillance. None were tested positive for restricted chemicals during the tissue compliance tests.
The Quarantine Detector Dog Unit is responsible for interdicting raw meat smuggling at all land border control points by means of hand-carries by inbound passengers as well as mass transit by trucks. The unit serves to safeguard public health by avoiding meat from unknown sources which may contain contagious and zoonotic pathogens such as E. coli O157 and avian influenza, to be imported into Hong Kong. There are four quarantine detector dogs in the unit. During the year, a total of 148 illegal meat import cases were detected.
Types of raw meat and number of cases detected by quarantine detector dogs in 2012
| Types of raw meat | No. of cases | Quantity (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Meat | 82 | 203.25 |
| Poultry | 14 | 24.94 |
| Assorted Meat and Poultry | 52 | 303.91 |
Subsequent to a series of food poisoning cases associated with the consumption of coral fish, a voluntary Code of Practice on the Import and Sale of Live Marine Fish for Human Consumption was developed in consultation with the trade and put in place. Under the code, traders will avoid the import and sale of high risk fish, keep transaction records of all live marine fish for at least 60 days, and report to the CFS every import of live coral fish within 48 hours of arrival.
For the export of food products of animal origin, 113 veterinary health certificates were issued for products such as chicken powder, ice cream, mooncakes, crispy whitebait and instant noodle. The value of these products totalled $87.6 million. They were exported to Australia, Canada, the European Union, Macao, New Zealand, the US and Indonesia.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment forms the scientific basis, in a risk-based food safety control model, for risk management and risk communication. It includes systematic estimation and evaluation of the likelihood and severity of the adverse health effects resulting from exposure to food-borne hazards based on the best available scientific evidence. A typical risk assessment consists of four steps - hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation.
Researches, projects and literature studies are part of the CFS's risk assessment work. In addition, food safety incidents and issues, both inside and outside Hong Kong, are monitored and assessed on a daily basis. These allow the CFS to respond promptly and proactively in order to protect the public from exposing to hazards that are considered as harmful to humans.
Risk Assessment Projects
During 2012, the CFS embarked on several risk assessment projects, namely: "Dietary Exposure to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) of Hong Kong Adult Population", "Study on Sodium Content in Local Foods", "Genetically Modified Ingredients in Corn and Corn-based Products in Hong Kong" and "Trans Fatty Acids in Local Foods (2012)". The latter two were conducted jointly with the Consumer Council.
Information on food risk is provided to the public through a series of "Risk-in-brief" (RIB) papers, which are posted on the CFS website. In 2012, a new issue of RIB on "4-Methylimidazole in Cola Drinks" was released. RIBs of "The Safety of Energy Drinks" and "Risk of PAHs in Barbecued Meats" were updated.
Food Consumption Survey
The Government commissioned the Chinese University of Hong Kong to conduct the first territory-wide population-based Food Consumption Survey to collect information on the food consumption patterns of the general public. The final report and relevant information is available from the CFS website. Results of the survey have enhanced the capacity of risk assessment work and facilitated the conduct of the Total Diet Study.
Total Diet Study
Total Diet Study (TDS) is internationally recognised as the most cost-effective way to estimate the dietary intake of a range of chemicals or nutrients of different population sub-groups. It allows the CFS to proactively assess whether specific chemicals would pose a risk to public health. In addition, it provides a scientific basis for formulating food safety strategies, undertaking surveillance and monitoring of food and food products, establishing regulatory standards for food and identifying deficiencies in the food safety regulatory regime. Moreover, as TDS also measures the amount of chemicals ingested by people of different age and sex groups, it enables the identification of the population groups that are most vulnerable and facilitates the formulation of action plans tailor-made for these groups. In 2012, the CFS released the 2nd report: inorganic arsenic; the 3rd report: polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); and the 4th report: pesticide residues of the first Hong Kong Total Diet Study. The reports on the remaining substances will be released in phases.
Nutrition Labelling
To assist consumers to make healthier food choices, encourage the trade to adopt sound nutritional principles in food production and regulate misleading or deceptive nutrition claims, a Nutrition Labelling Scheme (the Scheme) was launched. The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008 ("the Amendment Regulation") was enacted by the Legislative Council on 28 May 2008 and the Scheme has been implemented smoothly since 1 July 2010.
In order to assist the trade and laboratory service providers to understand and comply with the Scheme, online resources (including technical guidance notes, frequently asked questions, Nutrition Label Calculator, etc.), telephone hotline and helpdesk service are provided to traders. A Working Group on Nutrition Labelling comprising representatives from the trade, laboratories and the Government, continued to provide a platform to identify and tackle difficulties faced by the trade in complying with the Amendment Regulation, and enhance communication. CFS issued a "Trade Guidelines on Preparation of Legible Food Label" which provide recommendations on various elements of legible food label i.e. suitable font size, good contrast and enough spacing to assist the trade to provide legible information on food labels. The CFS started to receive applications for Small Volume Exemption (SVE) for Nutrition Labelling since September 2009. As at December 2012, over 50,700 applications were processed and there were about 17,400 SVE products in the market. A new computer system was rolled out in August 2010 to facilitate the trade to report the monthly sales volumes of their SVE products as well as to submit online SVE applications. As at December 2012, about 54% of SVE applications were online submitted. The public can also obtain information on SVE granted products through the CFS website.
On the education front, to sustain the efforts of the three-year publicity and education campaign on nutrition labelling, a two-year enhancement publicity and education programme was launched in 2011. The enhancement programme aims at motivating behavioural changes by encouraging more people to use nutrition labels in choosing food suitable for them.
To facilitate the members of the public to make better food choices by using nutrition information on prepackaged food any time, anywhere, a mobile application, "Nutrition Calculator" (NuCal) was launched in October 2011, which can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store. The application was upgraded in April 2012.
Formula products and foods intended for infants and young children under the age of 36 months
To better protect the health of infants and young children, the Administration put forward a package of legislative proposals relating to formula products and foods intended for infants and young children under the age of 36 months. The legislative proposals comprised requirements on nutritional composition of infant formulae and nutrition labelling of infant formulae, follow-up formulae and other foods for infant and young children. A 2-month public consultation exercise was conducted from 20 November 2012 to 21 January 2013 to collect views from the public as well as interested stakeholders. Public Forums and Technical Meetings for trade and laboratory service providers were arranged.
Nutrient Information Inquiry System
The Nutrient Information Inquiry System (NIIS) is a web-based searchable database containing nutrient information (including energy and 18 nutrients) on over 7,000 commonly consumed food items. Since June 2007, a Food Nutrient Calculator has been incorporated to promote public awareness of and capability in choosing healthy foods. It can automatically generate nutrient information about various food items that the users are interested in and this is a function that cannot be served by ordinary food composition tables. The NIIS has been updated with nutrient profiles from the Mainland and different overseas databases as well as local studies, and will continue its enhancement to include more nutrients that are of public concern and more user-friendly functions.
Food Standards
Setting food standards is an integral part of risk management in food safety. In setting new local food standards, the CFS takes reference from international food standards established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and scientific evaluations performed by internationally recognised authorities, such as the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), and the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR).
To better protect public health, facilitate effective regulatory control of pesticide residues in food and promote harmonisation between local and international standards, the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM) (the Regulation), made by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene on 26 April 2012, will commence on 1 August 2014. Before the Regulation comes into force, CFS will provide briefings, training and guidelines for different sectors to prepare them for the new Regulation.
In 2007, the CFS started the standard setting work on the veterinary drug residues in food. A Working Group comprising representatives from various government departments and members of the Expert Committee on Food Safety was formed to formulate the legislative framework. Upon finalising the proposed regulatory framework, the CFS will conduct public consultation.
In connection with food incidents involving infant formula in recent years, the CFS proposed to strengthen the regulation of dried milk (including infant formula) by amendment of the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF). The Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2011 extends the prohibition on the presence in food of veterinary drugs specified in the Second Schedule of Cap. 132AF to cover dried milk, condensed milk and reconstituted milk. The legislative amendment was tabled in the Legislative Council in December 2011 and came into operation on 1 March 2012.
In 2011, the CFS commenced work to review the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V) and revise the Microbiological Guidelines for Ready-to-eat food. Two designated Working Groups under the Expert Committee were formed and continued to give advice on these tasks.
Genetically Modified Food
Genetically modified (GM) food refers to food or a food ingredient that is, or is derived from, an organism in which genetic material has been modified using modern biotechnology. According to the WHO, GM foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessments and are not likely to present risks to human health.
Since July 2006, the CFS has issued "Guidelines for Voluntary Labelling of GM Food" to the trade, encouraging the trade to adopt a voluntary labelling system for GM food. In collaboration with the Government Laboratory, one qualitative GM food testing methods was developed during the year under the capacity building programme. The CFS also focuses on public education on GM food. Relevant information is conveyed to the public through publications such as GM Food Newsletter.
Risk Communication
Effective communication with stakeholders is of pivotal importance in the area of food safety. Adopted a risk analysis approach in food safety control, the CFS recognises that communication is a crucial two-way process and tripartite collaboration among the food trade, the public and the Government is vital in upholding food safety in Hong Kong. The Risk Communication Section provides the point of contact for stakeholders as well as operates various forms of interactive forums, platforms and programmes to enable the food trade and the public to actively contribute to food safety.
The trade consultation forum, first held in July 2006, has become a regular function for the trade to meet with the Centre to exchange latest information, views and developments in food safety. It is held five to six times a year to collect views on food safety matters and comments on food safety control measures as well as risk communication activities. As for the consumers, the Centre works actively with the Consumer Liaison Group to collect feedbacks and suggestions on various food safety issues. Enrolled on a voluntary basis, members of the Group communicate with the Centre from time to time through various forms of meetings as well as formal and informal communications and help shape the Centre's communication strategies.
Since the implementation of the nutrition labelling (NL) scheme in July 2010, the Centre is moving into the second year of the two-year enhancement programme in motivating behavioural changes in using nutrition labels for making healthier food choices. In 2012, two NL promotional schemes with the title of "Live it, Use it", namely "Live it, Use it" Nutrition Labelling Promotion Award Scheme and "Live it, Use it" Nutrition Labelling Fun Shopping Award Scheme were implemented to promote the use of nutrition labeling to the participating schools and community organisations. A variety of creative promotion activities were also conducted by 18 secondary schools and 18 community organisations. A Sharing Session cum Award Presentation Ceremony was held on 9 July. In order to provide further support for education partners, seminars have been organised with updated resource materials surrounding the key messages on three-step guide to use nutrition labels.
The Food Safety Charter has been jointly developed by the CFS and the food trade since 2008. It provides facilitation for the food trade to incorporate appropriate measures in their day-to-day practices and encourages the trade to commit to providing quality services grounded on food safety to Hong Kong people and tourists. For the year 2012, a total of 21 food trade associations and some 2,000 licensed food premises signed up to the Charter. Members of the public can identify the signatories by the Food Safety Charter certificates and stickers on display in their food premises. In recognition of the continual support of the Food Safety Charter, Signatories that have been a member for three consecutive years were presented with a specially designed certificate.
On food safety promotion activities, the Centre launched a media and communication campaign themed "Get the Temperature Right" to promote the storage of food at the right temperature. To kick start a series of activities, the Food Safety Day 2012 with the theme "Get the Temperature Right" was held at Tai Po Mega Mall on 26 May. Other publicity activities included a new set of Announcement in the Public Interest, a series of public and trade talks between June and August together with food trade associations and non-governmental organisations as well as a photo competition with the theme "Safe Food ‧ Gourmet Paradise".
The CFS as one of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centres for Risk Analysis of Chemicals in Food since October 2010 is destined to contribute to the public health especially in food safety at the regional level. The Centre hosted the Regional Symposium: "Food Claims-Truth and Myth" on 29 and 30 October 2012 to examine the current development of nutrition and health claims, update the market and scientific research directions, and exchange views related to issues and concerns of various regulatory approaches. The symposium provided a platform for experience sharing, updating on the development of nutrition and health claims, fostering partnership and collaboration, and providing an opportunity for communicating with the trade. The Centre also hosted the Workshop on "Scientific Evaluation of Nutrition and Health Claims" on 31 October 2012 to discuss the principles and issues surrounding scientific substantiation of nutrition and health claims from consumer, trade and regulatory perspectives.
The Risk Communication Section has also put in place a range of mechanisms to keep the public and the trade informed of food safety issues in a timely and proactive manner. The "Rapid Alert System" delivers prompt email/fax messages to the food trade explaining food incidents, providing advice and enquiry phone numbers. Food alerts are issued on the CFS website and via electronic means when food incidents of major public health concern are identified. "The Food Incident Post" on the CFS website presents the overseas food safety incidents that do not have major impact on local population. The monthly electronic newsletter "Food Safety Focus" posted on the CFS website covers current local and overseas food safety issues and the actions undertaken by the CFS. It also provides professional and easy-to-understand information on various food hazards and related public health risks. Quarterly publications, "Food Safety Bulletin" and "Food Safety Express", target the general public and the trade respectively. Starting from 2009, the CFS issues the Food Safety Reports monthly instead of bimonthly. In addition, reports on five Seasonal Food Surveillance projects, 12 Targeted Food Surveillance and two Surveys on Popular Food Items were also issued in 2012. The fortnightly e-news helps subscribers to keep abreast of the latest activities and information.
Last but not least, the Risk Communication Section handles enquiries from the media and the public on food safety. It also publicises the results of food surveillance and risk assessment studies and relevant health advice. The CFS maintains a wide range of resource materials including guidelines, pamphlets, posters and exhibition boards, as well as topical giveaway items for consumption of the public and trade. Members of the public may also contact the Communication Resource Unit of the Section for customised support on food safety initiatives.
An emergency telephone hotline centre has been set up in the office of Communication Resource Unit since mid August 2012 to handle enquiries on the food incident relating to low iodine level in infant milk formulae. The hotline centre enhances the capacity in answering enquiries especially during major food incidents/crisis.
Summary of Risk Communication Activities in 2012
| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of educational/publicity programmes organised | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| No. of resource materials produced | 63 | 114 | 84 | 78 | 75 |
| Total attendance at public education/communication activities | 180,000 | 173,908 | 199,098 | 208,285 | 178,763 |
| No. of public enquiries handled | 14,230 | 7,524 | 6,441 | 5,948 | 4,312 |
| No. of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) seminars/workshops | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Seasonal Food Surveillance |
|---|
| Lunar New Year food |
| Rice Dumplings |
| Mooncakes |
| Hairy Crabs |
| Microbiological Quality of "Poon Choi" |
| Targeted Food Surveillance |
|---|
| Microbiological Quality of Lunch Boxes |
| Microbiological Quality of Refrigerated Pre-packaged Boxed Meal that Required Reheating before Consumption |
| Microbiological Quality of Ice-cream and Frozen Confections |
| Microbiological Quality of Chinese Cold Dishes |
| Microbiological Quality of Bottled Water |
| Sudan Dyes in Eggs and Egg Products |
| Nitrate and Nitrite in Meat, Meat Products and Cheese |
| Sulphur Dioxide in Meat (Two Phases) |
| Preservatives in Preserved Fruits and Vegetables |
| Used Oil |
| Survey on Popular Food Items |
|---|
| Sashimi and Sushi |
| Sandwiches and Salads |
HACCP-based Food Safety Plan
The adoption of a food safety plan (FSP) was continually promoted during the year. The FSP is a proactive food safety assurance model based on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). Promotional programmes are devised for specific trade sectors, including "poon choi" suppliers, caterers for elderly homes, schools and child-care centres and food premises selling siu mei, supplying lunch boxes, sushi, sashimi, raw oyster and meat to be eaten raw. Workshops and seminars are organised for managerial and operational staff of the target groups. This year, the programme also covered the food assistance programmes provided by the non-government organisations (NGOs) of which the standard of food safety had raised some concerns.
Members of the public have also been included in the publicity programme, as a better informed public is an added incentive for the trade to implement HACCP principles.
Food hygiene seminars and workshops were held from March to December to introduce the concept of food risk and to highlight the FSP as an important risk management measure for the trade, the NGOs and the public.
Pest Control
The FEHD is the Government's adviser on pest control matters and is responsible for handling problems of pests affecting public health. In meeting this goal, the Department adopts an integrated approach, putting equal emphasis on the effective use of pesticides and continuous improvements in environmental hygiene. It regularly updates its control methodologies and technologies, making reference to the latest recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Department works closely with the pest control trade in upholding the professional standards of pest control practices by offering professional support and advice.
Management of vector-borne diseases
Vector-borne diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis (JE), chikungunya fever, plague, scrub typhus, urban typhus, spotted fever and hantaan disease, continue to pose a threat to Hong Kong. Working with the Department of Health, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Home Affairs Department, the FEHD serves as an executive arm in the prevention and control of the above-mentioned vector-borne diseases. Investigations are initiated immediately once a disease is reported, followed by appropriate vector control measures.
Risk Assessment and Surveillance of Mosquitoes
Hong Kong is under the constant threat of dengue fever. Mosquito breeding grounds in the community and the port areas are monitored continually. The ovitrap indices obtained from these locations are released to the parties concerned and the public to increase community participation in controlling the vector and heighten awareness of the mosquito problem. In 2012, the average ovitrap index recorded in the community was 4.1%. The highest Monthly Average Ovitrap Index (MOI) recorded in the community was 12.4% (in May) and the highest port MOI was 0.7% (in May and June). These reflected that the mosquito problem was under control. In addition, a long-standing control programme against malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, covering some 600 streams, returned favourable results in 2012, revealing no evidence of local transmission of malaria.
During the year, the Department conducted 778,026 inspections with 41,650 mosquito breeding places found, 144 warning letters issued, and 47 summonses taken out. Legal action was taken against those who allowed mosquitoes to breed on their premises.
Anti-mosquito campaign
An inter-departmental Anti-mosquito Campaign was launched in three phases in 2012. Anti-mosquito measures were strengthened with educational and publicity work, and there was a continued emphasis on eliminating breeding places.
Risk Assessment and Surveillance of Rodents
To keep track of the extent of rodent infestation, rodent infestation surveys have been conducted since 2000. The Rodent Infestation Rate (the percentage of bait consumed by rodents, obtained from different places at different times) is used to assess rodent problems at different places so as to take prompt action to prevent their proliferation. The overall Rodent Infestation Rate obtained in 2012 was 2.4% which indicated that rodent infestation was under control.
Inspections and disinfestations are also carried out regularly to contain rodent problems. During the year, the Department handled 6,378 reports of rodent problem with 38 written warnings issued, and collected 31,396 dead rodents (10,402 trapped and 20,994 poisoned). More than 6,300 rat holes were filled.
Moreover, the department monitors the rat-flea index of waterfront and land port areas to assess the risk of plague transmission. The overall rat-flea indices of waterfront and land port areas under surveys in 2012 were 0.05 and zero respectively. Studies were also carried out in markets and wholesale food markets to monitor the rat-flea situation. The rat-flea index was found to be 0.19 and 0.60 respectively with an overall index of 0.26. (The WHO states that a Rat-flea Index greater than 1 represents an increased plague risk for humans if the plague bacillus has been introduced into a country or region.)
Anti-rodent campaign
In addition to routine rodent control measures, the Department engages community participation in its efforts to control rodents through the annual territory-wide inter-departmental Anti-rodent Campaign. The campaign was promoted through a number of channels including theme talks and exhibitions.
Airport Disease Vectors Surveillance
Hong Kong is renowned for its vibrant international airport. To ensure that it is free from dengue fever and plague vectors, monitoring stations have been set up at various points in accordance with international health regulations. In 2012, 657 mosquito surveys were conducted, with MOI consistently below 0.3%. The rat-flea index recorded from rat-flea studies was zero. A total of 67 advisory letters were issued.
Cross-boundary Co-operation
As infectious diseases know no physical boundaries, close ties have been established among Guangdong Province, Macao and Hong Kong in the fight against such diseases and the disease vectors. In addition to regular meetings between the parties at senior administrative and professional levels, an exchange programme involving professionals from Guangdong and Hong Kong is in place to promote mutual understanding and cross-fertilisation of expertise. Information on disease vectors surveillance in port areas is also exchanged regularly.
Other Pest Control Programmes
Other than mosquitoes and rats, the Department controls, by disinfestations, other pests such as flies, fleas, mites, cockroaches, ants, wasps and ticks. In 2012, 100,787 disinfestation operations using pesticides were carried out. Staff are deployed to patrol refuse collection points, rear lanes and hygiene black spots to spray insecticides, as necessary, and remove items attracting flies.