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Health supplement traders are calling for special laws to govern the labelling of their products, saying conventional food standards are not suitable.
A nutrition labelling scheme due to start in 2010 should not apply to supplements, the  Health Food Association  says, because they are different from other types of food in terms of nutrient levels, product claims and daily consumption limits.
The new labelling rules would impose unnecessary costs on the industry without helping customers understand the products, Perry Sit, the association's regulatory affairs director, said yesterday.
The scheme, which was passed earlier this year and will begin on July 1, 2010, requires all prepackaged food to reveal nutritional information.
Labels need to list energy values plus seven core nutrients - protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars.
Association president Angela Lau  said that with more people taking food supplements, the government should provide clear guidelines for health food.
The  call coincided with the release of research results that showed 35 per cent of respondents had taken supplements in the past six months.
The study also found quality and safety were of higher priority than price when most Hongkongers bought health supplements. In addition, 90 per cent  agreed  supplements should be regulated differently from conventional food.
The study of 1,062 people aged 18 or above was carried out by the Social Sciences Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong  from September 8 to 22.
A spokeswoman for the Food and Health Bureau  said the nutrition labelling scheme was aimed at ensuring public health.
She said the law exempted not only food without nutritional claims but also that with an annual sales volume below 30,000 units - an exemption that catered for health food.
Ms Lau said the study showed a growing popularity of health food and a clear need for a separate governing mechanism to protect customers' rights and safety.
Safety first
A study shows most Hongkongers rank quality and safety above price when buying health supplements
Annual sales in HK dollars of supplements in the city are estimated at: $10b
Source: Hong Kong Health Food Association



Call for special  labels on health   supplements