New Hong Kong food safety licensing ready to launch but unclear if imported sandwiches are covered
The regulation follows last year’s sandwich poisoning scandal, and a lawmaker thinks it should target all unlicensed hawkers operating online
A regulation aimed at stopping the unlawful online sale of high-risk food appeared unclear as to whether it could cover imported sandwiches – a leading source of last year’s online food scandal.
The licensing scheme, which was to come into effect in the first quarter of this year, required online food stores offering restricted food listed in the Food Business Regulation, such as sushi and sashimi, to apply for permits. They were to display information such as permit numbers and registered addresses on their websites.
READ MORE: Taiwanese Horng Ryen Jen sandwiches were contaminated before they arrived in Hong Kong, says health department
The new licensing would be added to locally licensed food stores, restaurants or food factories, which would be required to provide their license information on their website if they were involved in online sales and even if they sold non-restricted foods.
It was expected to take 15 months for all current license holders to renew their licensing. Letters were sent to around 31,000 food license holders in September regarding the new arrangement.
Last year, nine out of the some 200 food poisoning cases were related to online food sales.
Among the nine online cases, six related to Horng Ryen Jen sandwiches.
In total, 96 people were sickened by the Taiwanese sandwich products through various means of procurement, raising public concern over food safety.