Hong Kong | Amended Food Labeling Regulations Implementation Date Approaching...

Hong Kong

Amended Food Labeling Regulations Implementation Date Approaching

The end of the 36 month grace period for implementation of Hong Kong's amended food labeling regulations is fast approaching on July 9. Under the amended regulations, manufacturers and exporters of pre-packaged foods to Hong Kong will have to declare in the list of ingredients the presence of allergens, including cereals containing gluten, crustacean and products, eggs and products, fish and fish products, peanuts, soybeans and tree nuts, and milk and milk products.

If an additive is an ingredient in a pre-packaged food, such as a processed meat product, the food label, in addition to listing the additive, should indicate its functional class (e.g. stabilizer) and its specific name or its identification number under the International Numbering System (INS) for Food Additives.

For additional information on these regulations, see the following documents: USDA GAIN Report 2006: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards, USDA GAIN Report 2005: Revised Nutrition Labeling Proposal for Hong Kong and Hong Kong Labeling Guidelines for Food Allergens, Food Additives and Date Format.

USDA Hong Kong recommends that exporters with concerns about compliance with the new regulations contact their importers for further guidance. Exporters can also contact USMEF Hong Kong at hongkong@usmef.org.

Hong Kong

Amended Food Labeling Regulations Implementation Date Approaching

The end of the 36 month grace period for implementation of Hong Kong's amended food labeling regulations is fast approaching on July 9. Under the amended regulations, manufacturers and exporters of pre-packaged foods to Hong Kong will have to declare in the list of ingredients the presence of allergens, including cereals containing gluten, crustacean and products, eggs and products, fish and fish products, peanuts, soybeans and tree nuts, and milk and milk products.

If an additive is an ingredient in a pre-packaged food, such as a processed meat product, the food label, in addition to listing the additive, should indicate its functional class (e.g. stabilizer) and its specific name or its identification number under the International Numbering System (INS) for Food Additives.

For additional information on these regulations, see the following documents: USDA GAIN Report 2006: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards, USDA GAIN Report 2005: Revised Nutrition Labeling Proposal for Hong Kong and Hong Kong Labeling Guidelines for Food Allergens, Food Additives and Date Format.

USDA Hong Kong recommends that exporters with concerns about compliance with the new regulations contact their importers for further guidance. Exporters can also contact USMEF Hong Kong at hongkong@usmef.org.