Hongkong
Hong Kong is the world's most densely populated region, with a resident population of about 7.5 million; according to recent data released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, about 66 million visitors to Hong Kong in foreign years, which also brings strong demand and purchasing power, in view of this, the huge demand for imported food has become inevitable. The management of imported food in Hong Kong is mainly divided into different food categories to set up different management system measures and path guidelines, food operators for registration or license management, food importers and or distributors for registration management, so as to achieve technical compliance of imported food, labeling compliance and operator compliance.
Registration scheme for food importers and food distributors
Sections 4 and 5 of the Ordinance require any person who carries on a food importation/ distribution business to register with Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (DFEH) as a food importer/ food distributor.
"Food importer" means a person who carries on a business which brings or causes to be brought any food into Hong Kong by air, land or sea.
"Food distributor" means a person who carries on a business of which the principal activity is wholesale supply of food in Hong Kong. This also includes in general food producers (like fish/vegetables farmers and fishermen) and food manufacturers who supply their products by wholesale.
Licence Application
In recent years, the FTP system is mainly used to apply online, which is also the trend in the future. At the same time, the offline method is reserved. The offline application is submitted with the form FEHB 245A with reference to the instructions for filling in. For details, please refer to the "Guidelines for the Registration System of Food Importers and Food Distributors".
The Laws and Regulation about the imported food to Hongkong are including but not limited to:
Colouring Matter in Food Regulations (Cap.132H）
Dried Milk Regulations (Cap.132R)
Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Cap.132U)
Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap.132V)
Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap.132W)
Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap.132AC)
Guidelines on the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2021
Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap.132AK)
Mineral Oil in Food Regulations (Cap.132AR)
Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap.132BD)
Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM)
Guidelines for labeling:
Technical Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims
Labelling Guidelines On Food Allergens, Food Additives And Date Format
Trade Guidelines on Serving Size of Prepackaged Food For Nutrition Labelling
Technical Guidance Notes on Nutritional Composition and Nutrition Labelling of Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula and Prepackaged Food for Infants and Young Children
1.Guide to Application for Import Licence for Frozen Meat, Chilled Meat, Frozen Poultry and Chilled Poultry
Each consignment of the frozen meat, chilled meat, frozen poultry and chilled poultry is to be covered by one import licence. The licence application must be supported by a valid health certificate issued by the recognized issuing entity of the exporting country covering the consignment or by specific approval from the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene.
Traders who have opened user accounts in the Food Trader Portal (FTP) may submit applications for import licenses online round-the-clock at FTP website: www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk. Upon approval, the import licence will be sent to the applicant's FTP account.
2. Conditions to be complied with for the import of Mainland chilled chickens(parts)
a. Each consignment of chilled chickens shall be accompanied by health certificate issued by the respective General Administration of Customs, People's Republic of China.
b. An import licence shall be obtained in advance from the Food Importer/Distributor Registration and Import Licensing Office of this Department and shall be submitted for verification.c. The chilled chickens shall be derived from chickens slaughtered and packed by (name and address of approved plant).
d. Chilled chickens shall be individually packed in closed containers which have been labelled in accordance with Schedule 3 to the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations, Cap. 132W. The surface of each container shall mark with an indication of processing plant registration number and the date of production.
3. Guide lines for importers who wish to import beef, pork and mutton from the European Union (EU) member states.
CFS has earlier agreed with EU to adopt the dual purpose EU document, i.e. EXPORT DECLARATION/HEALTH CERTIFICATE for replacing the current health certificate previously agreed with individual EU member states for importing beef, pork and mutton from those eligible EU member states.
A health certificate can only be issued by an eligible EU member state where the animal was slaughtered. If the animal was slaughtered in a EU member state different from the eligible exporting EU member state, a health certificate cannot be issued. Instead, the eligible exporting EU member state must issue an Export Declaration and the importer in Hong Kong must obtain permission in writing from CFS of FEHD of Hong Kong before importing the consignment into Hong Kong.
If importers wish to import beef, pork and mutton from eligible EU member states whereas the animal was slaughtered in a member state different from the exporting member state, they may download the application form FEHB 286 from website of FEHD or CFS to apply for the permission in writing or submit online application through the Food Trader Portal (www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk).
The permission in writing is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and can be used for more than one shipment. No application fee is required and FEHD pledges to process applications within five working days.
Each imported consignment, when arrives in Hong Kong, must be accompanied by an/a EXPORT DECLARATION/HEALTH CERTIFICATE issued by relevant eligible exporting EU member state to certify the meat is fit for human consumption.
Guide to Application for Permission in Writing for Import of Eggs
With an aim to better protect Hong Kong from the threat of AI, the Government has amended the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations, Cap. 132AK to strengthen the control of the imported eggs.
The permission in writing is valid for six months from the date of issue. Application for Import Licence for import of eggs is not required.
Guide to Import of Milk and Milk Beverages into HK
Source of Manufacture
The Milk Regulation requires, inter alia, any milk or milk beverage to be imported into Hong Kong from a source of manufacture that has been approved by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene. Before importing these food products into Hong Kong, importers need to apply to the Food Import & Export Section of the Centre for Food Safety through on-line system at FTP website (www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk) or paper-mode application and provide the following information either in English or Chinese or accompanied by a verified translation in either English or Chinese:
a. Copy of valid registration certificate of the product’s manufacturing plant issued by a competent authority of the place of food origin;b.Supply certificate issued by the manufacturer certifying that it is the direct supplier of the product, together with the manufacturing flowchart showing details of the production facilities, heat-treatment method, etc.;
c. Test report on the quality of water used in the manufacturing plant for food production, including results of coliform bacteria and free residual chlorine levels;
d. Test report showing the chemical composition of the product;
e. Test report showing the microbiological quality of the product;
d. Declaration by the manufacturer on the shelf-life of the product;
e. Sample of empty container of the product;
f. Full clear pictures of the product package (showing clearly the brand name, product name, ingredients, heat-treatment method, name and address of the manufacturer, name and address of the importer);
d. Specimen of certificate issued by a competent authority of the place of food origin certifying the product has been subject to appropriate heat-treatment, has been handled, processed and packed under satisfactory hygienic conditions, meets specific quality standards and is fit for human consumption; in case legal reference is quoted in the certificate, a copy of the original text of the relevant legislation shall be attached.
In addition to the information and documents listed above, this Department may require the applicant to provide other supplementary information and documents depending on individual circumstances.
Arrival of Consignment
After obtaining the approval and satisfying other conditions which may be imposed by the Department, importers may import the milk or milk beverages into Hong Kong. Section 59(1)(c) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance provides the Department with the power to make special procedures for examining imported food. At present, when a milk or milk beverage consignment arrives and before its release, the products will be inspected and if necessary, sampled by the Department. Upon the Department's satisfaction, a "release letter" will be issued to the importer.
How to make application?
Traders who have opened user accounts in the Food Trader Portal (FTP) may submit applications for import permission online round-the-clock at FTP website: (www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk). Upon approval, the permission will be sent to the applicant's FTP account.
Frozen Confections
Source of Manufacture
The Frozen Confections Regulation requires, inter alia, any frozen confection to be imported into Hong Kong from a source of manufacture that has been approved by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene. Before importing these food products into Hong Kong, importers need to apply to the Food Import & Export Section of the Centre for Food Safety through on-line system at FTP website (www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk) or paper-mode application and provide the following information either in English or Chinese or accompanied by a verified translation in either English or Chinese:
a. Copy of valid registration certificate of the product’s manufacturing plant issued by a competent authority of the place of food origin;b. Supply certificate issued by the manufacturer certifying that it is the direct supplier of the product, together with the manufacturing flowchart showing details of the production facilities, heat-treatment method, etc.;
c. Test report on the quality of water used in the manufacturing plant for food production, including results of coliform bacteria and free residual chlorine levels;
d. Test report showing the chemical composition of the product;e. Test report showing the microbiological quality of the product;
f. Sample of empty container of the product;
g. Full clear pictures of the product package (showing clearly the brand name, product name, ingredients, heat-treatment method, name and address of the manufacturer, name and address of the importer);
h. Specimen of certificate issued by a competent authority of the place of food origin certifying the product has been subject to appropriate heat-treatment, has been handled, processed and packed under satisfactory hygienic conditions, meets specific quality standards and is fit for human consumption; in case legal reference is quoted in the certificate, a copy of the original text of the relevant legislation shall be attached.
In addition to the information and documents listed above, this Department may require the applicant to provide other supplementary information and documents depending on individual circumstances.
Arrival of Consignment
After obtaining the approval and satisfying other conditions which may be imposed by the Department, importers may import the frozen confections into Hong Kong. Section 59(1)(c) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance provides the Department with the power to make special procedures for examining imported food. At present, when a frozen confection consignment arrives and before its release, the products will be inspected and if necessary, sampled by the Department. Upon the satisfaction of the Department, a "release letter" will be issued to the importer.
Applications path
Traders who have opened user accounts in the Food Trader Portal (FTP) may submit applications for import permission online round-the-clock at FTP website: (www.ftp.cfs.gov.hk). Upon approval, the permission will be sent to the applicant's FTP account.
1. Are import permission and import license the same document?
A: No,import permission refers to the certificate that the importer is allowed to import a certain goods, and there is no quantitative limit during the validity period. An import license generally refers to the approval of the import quantity of a batch of goods.
2. What are the main regulations and laws governing imported food?
A: In addition to product technical specifications and labeling compliance, the main subject to the provisional import of food regulations or laws (available in the FTP system) and the foreign competent authorities (or licensing entities) approved by the production enterprise directory.
3. Food import permission for re-export to Macau or the Mainland
A: For food re-export to Macau or Mainland, you need to apply for the import permission for importers.
4. Is a food importer/food distributor license required?
A: Yes, It is a prerequisite for engaging in food import, wholesale, application for import permission, import license, declaration of arrival documents, etc.
5. Is mainland enterprise need to make the enterprise application in Hongkong.
A: According to Hong Kong’s food control classification, mainland food production enterprises do not need to apply to Hong Kong, but only need to apply for the export food production enterprise filing and external recommendation laws and regulations of the General Administration of Customs of the mainland. Hong Kong recognizes the list of foreign recommended companies updated by GACC.
6. How to get access to the list of approved overseas food production enterprises?
A: There are two ways to retrieve the access list through the FTP system and the inquiry or other consultation methods through the official network publishing platform of the local management authority (or license issuing entity).In addition, if the issuing entity can issue a health certificate destined for Hong Kong, that is, to prove from the side that the manufacturer has the export conditions to Hong Kong, otherwise the issuing entity itself cannot issue a health certificate without the destination for Hong Kong.
