Lawmakers yesterday passed a bill that empowers the director of food and environmental hygiene to order mandatory recalls of food products that could harm people.
Under the amended Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, the director can prohibit the import and sale of any food, and order that food to be recalled if he has reasonable grounds to believe the food can endanger public health.
Offenders who defy the order can be fined up to HK$100,000 and imprisoned for up to 12 months.
Parties aggrieved by the director's recall can lodge an appeal with the Municipal Services Appeals Board and may receive compensation if they win.
The bill was passed by a show of hands. Although legislators supported it, some cautioned against a possible abuse of power.
Democratic Party lawmaker Fred Li Wah-ming, who is also chairman of the food safety and environmental hygiene panel, said the government should enforce the law prudently.