. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/HKG/23 
13 September 2006 
 (06-4382) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  HONG KONG, CHINA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  The Health, Welfare and Food Bure au of the Government of the 
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Chilled beef, mutton or pork  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable:  
Members that export chill ed beef, mutton or pork to Hong Kong, China  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Food Business 
(Amendment) Regulation 2006 (5 pages in Chinese and 5 pages in English).  
6. Description of content:  The Amendment Regulation requires chilled beef, mutton or pork to 
be pre-packaged and properly labeled if it is so ld in fresh provision s hops/market stalls which 
also sell fresh beef, mutton or pork.  Informati on required to be shown on the labels is similar 
to the existing labeling requirement for pre- packaged food in general under the Food and 
Drugs (Composition and Labeling)  Regulations (Cap. 132 sub. le g. W), e.g. name, "use by" 
date, net weight, etc.  In addition to that, th e labels are required to indicate the name and 
address of the slaughtering plan t and the slaughtering date.  Wh ere pre-packaging and labeling 
are required under the Amendment Regulation, such  procedures may be completed either in 
the exporting country or in Hong Kong, China. 
This Amendment Regulation will  have no implications on othe r types of food exported to 
Hong Kong, China.  
7. Objective and rationale: [ X ] food safety,  [   ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection, 
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from other damage from pests   
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [ X ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Nil G/SPS/N/HKG/23 
Page 2  
 
  10. Proposed date of adoption:  The Amendment Regulation was published in the Government 
Gazette on 7 July 2006.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  The Amendment Regulation came into effect on 
18 August 2006, but the legislative proces s is still ongoing.  A Legislative Council 
Subcommittee has been formed to scrutinise th e Amendment Regulation and it is scheduled to 
meet on 26 September 2006.  
12. Final date for comments:  19 September 2006  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Health, Welfare and Food Bureau 
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 20/F, Murray Building Garden Road 
Central 
Hong Kong  Telephone:  (852) 2973 8189 Facsimile:  (852) 2136 3281 
E-mail address:  sypkwan@hwfb.gov.hk  
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Health, Welfare and Food Bureau 
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 20/F, Murray Building Garden Road 
Central 
Hong Kong  Telephone:  (852) 2973 8189 Facsimile:  (852) 2136 3281 
E-mail address:  sypkwan@hwfb.gov.hk