. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/HKG/18 
16 January 2004 
 (04-0131) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English 
   
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   HONG KONG, CHINA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   The Health, Welfare and Food Bu reau, the Government of the Hong 
Kong Special Administrative Region 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:         
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Prepackaged food 
products 
5. Title, number of pages and langu age(s) of the notified document:   Consultation paper on 
“Labelling Scheme on Nutrition Information” ( 42 pages in English;  36 pages in Chinese) 
6. Description of content:   The consultation paper invites views on the proposal to implement 
mandatory nutrition labelling for prepackaged  food products by phases through legislative 
amendments to the regulations made under th e Public Health and Municipal Services 
Ordinance (Chapter 132 of the Laws of Hong Kong ).  It is proposed that nutrition labelling 
(on nine core nutrients and energy) is require d for prepackaged food products with nutrient-
related claims under Phase I while prepackaged food products without nutrient-related 
claims may provide nutrition labelling on a volun tary basis in accordan ce with the specified 
requirements.  Under Phase II, all prepackaged  food products are required to have nutrition 
labelling, except for those exempted from the requirements.  A two-year grace period would 
be allowed before the implementation of Ph ase I, and Phase II would be implemented three 
years after the implementation of Phase I.  The proposed labelling scheme makes reference 
to the guidelines of the Codex Alimentari us Commission (Codex) on nutrition labelling, 
which will not be applicable to infant/fo llow-up formulae, foods for infants and young 
children, and other foods for special dietary uses. For nutrient-related claims, the Codex’s 
principles and guidelines will be applied. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:    
(a) To facilitate consumers to make healthy food choices; 
(b) To encourage food manufacturers to apply sound nutrition principles in the 
formulation of foods which woul d benefit public health;  and 
(c) To regulate misleading or deceptive labels and claims. 
 G/TBT/N/HKG/18 
Page 2  
 
8. Relevant documents:   Nil 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  The amendment regulation is expect ed to be introduced to the 
Legislative Council for scrutiny in around 2005.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Subject to the time taken for the enactment of the 
legislation, Phase I will be implemented in around 2007 and Phase II in around 2010. 
10. Final date for comments:   31 January 2004 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:        
Health,   Welfare and Food Bureau 
(Attn: Consultation on Nutrition Labelling Scheme) 
10/F, Citibank Tower, 
3 Garden Road  Facsimile: (852) 21363282 E-mail address: nutrition_labelling@hwfb.gov.hk  
The notified text could also be downloaded from 
http://www.hwfb.gov.hk
 or 
http://www.hwfb.gov.hk/en/consult/0 31121_feh/consult_nutrition.htm