FEHD Enhances Food Safety Inspections for School Lunch Box Suppliers Ahead of New School Year

FEHD strives to ensure food safety of school lunch boxes

To prepare for the new school year, and to enhance food safety and hygiene awareness among licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) launched a series of operations to inspect licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes in various districts of Hong Kong with a view to ensuring food safety.

A spokesman for the FEHD said today (August 19), "The FEHD has enhanced inspections of food factories supplying school lunch boxes to ensure that the licensing conditions in respect of food handling and processing are observed by the operators, and that hygienic standards stipulated in the laws are met. Food samples are continuously collected for testing. Meanwhile, FEHD staff will also provide health education to operators and staff of food factories, distributing food safety pamphlets to remind them of the proper way of handling school lunch boxes."

The CFS hosted an online trade meeting on July 9 to remind lunch box suppliers to adhere to good hygiene practices and establish a food safety plan based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system. Suppliers may refer to the relevant guidelines for more safety information on lunch box production. Furthermore, to ensure food safety on campuses, the CFS arranged an online seminar for schools on July 29, highlighting food safety hazards such as choking and food allergies, and advising schools to choose lunch box suppliers that hold a valid Food Factory Licence issued by the FEHD and are endorsed to provide lunch boxes. Before placing orders, schools should visit the premises to ensure that food handlers observe food safety and hygiene practices.

The CFS has published "A Practical Guide for Ensuring Food Safety in Schools and Childcare Facilities", to which schools and childcare facilities can refer when choosing lunchbox suppliers and ensuring food safety on campus. For further details, please visit the "Safe Food at School" thematic webpage.

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department hosted an online trade meeting on July 9 to remind school lunch box suppliers to adhere to good hygiene practices and establish a food safety plan based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

To prepare for the new school year, and to enhance food safety and hygiene awareness among licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, the Centre for Food Safety and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has launched a series of operations and stepped up inspections of licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes in various districts of Hong Kong, with a view to ensuring food safety. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs arrests financial manager and administrative manager of beauty company

Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation today (August 19) to combat unfair trade practices by beauty companies. An investigation was launched into a retailer suspected of engaging in aggressive commercial practices when selling skincare products and beauty devices. During the operation, a financial manager and an administrative manager of the company involved were arrested for suspected violations of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (the Ordinance). The investigation is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Hong Kong Customs, Photo source: reference image

Customs once again appeals to customers who suspect they have been subjected to such unfair trade practices to contact Customs as soon as possible.

Customs reminds traders that they must comply with the requirements of the Ordinance, and advises consumers to patronize reputable merchants. Consumers should remain calm before purchasing services or products. If they do not fully understand the product details and prices, or do not wish to make a purchase, they should firmly refuse to sign any sales documents or make any payments.

The beauty company implicated in the case, Photo source: threads image

Under the Ordinance, any trader who uses harassment, coercion, or undue influence to restrict or impair a consumer's freedom of choice or conduct, thereby causing the consumer to make a transactional decision, commits the offense of aggressive commercial practices. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Customs has always attached great importance to consumer rights protection and has zero tolerance for unfair trade practices, pledging to continue its stringent enforcement action against unscrupulous traders.

Members of the public who encounter unfair trade practices or suspect a trader has violated the Ordinance should report it as soon as possible by calling the Customs' 24-hour hotline at 182 8080, or via the crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or the online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

The beauty company implicated in the case, Photo source: threads image