Baby milk legislation to be speeded up

The government will speed up legislation to close loopholes that exempt baby food from nutrition-labelling rules in the wake of tests that showed two brands of Japanese baby formula lacked a nutrient vital to brain development.

But it has not set a timetable for the new rules, despite concern over Centre for Food Safety tests that showed two Japanese milk formula brands on sale in the city for years lacked iodine.

The results sparked a crisis of confidence in milk formula and calls from a mothers' group for the authorities to close loopholes in the labelling rules that came into force in 2010 that exempt food intended for children under three.

Dr Lee Siu-yuen, the associate director for food surveillance and control at the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, told an RTHK radio programme yesterday that the government was preparing legislation but refused to set a timescale.

'In light of this incident, the government will draw up the nutritional composition and labelling of infant formula [regulations] as soon as possible,' she said.

There are about 40 infant formula brands encompassing about 60 products on sale in the city, according to the centre. Previously, they had only been tested for contamination, not nutritional content.

Lee said it would take time for the government to formulate guidelines as it would have to take into account various factors, including the eating habits of local women, recommendations from experts and the viability of the industry.