1. Get To Know The New Nutrition Labelling Scheme

2. Information on Food Labels

3. Nutrition Information on Food Labels:Nutrition Label

4. Nutrition Information on Food Labels:Nutrition Claim

5. Background: The International Scene • More and more countries/regions have implemented nutrition labelling scheme. • Some developed countries have implemented mandatory nutrition labelling scheme. • Some other countries require the application of nutrition label when a nutrition claim is made for a food.

6. Background: Situation in Hong Kong Before we have our legislation specific for nutrition labelling and claims: • Only some products present nutrition labels. • No objective standards specifying the levels of nutritional content to be met when making nutrition claims. • Products with the same claim may have very different nutritional content.

7. Nutrition Labelling Scheme in HK • The new Regulation on nutrition labelling and nutrition claim was enacted by the Legislative Council in May 2008. • It will come into force on 1 July 2010 after a grace period of about two years.

8. Objectives of Nutrition Labelling Scheme • Facilitate consumers to make informed food choices; • Encourage food manufacturers to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods; and • Regulate misleading or deceptive labels and claims.

9. Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling)(Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labellingand Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008 Nutrition information on Food Labels Nutrition Labelling Nutrition Claims Nutrient content claims Nutrient function claims Nutrient comparative claims

10. Scope of Regulation • General prepackaged food. • Requires the provision of nutrition label, setting out the content of “1+7”(i.e. energy and seven nutrients specified for labelling). • Nutrition claims will be regulated. Food products bearing nutrition claims must meet certain specified conditions.

11. Examples of Food Exempted from Nutrition Label • Practical difficulty for providing nutrition label. • The food contains insignificant amount (nearly zero) of energy and specified nutrients. • Fresh food without any addition of ingredients or is not subject to processing. • Prepackaged food sold at a catering establishment for immediate consumption.

12. Examples of Food Exempted from Nutrition Label 此乃豁免 營養標籤產品 Nutrition Labelling Exempted • Prepackaged food with small sales volume • Annual sales volume of 30 000 units or below and do not carry nutrition claims. • Requires approval of application. • Products exempted will have stickers on the packages to indicate their exemption status. • An exemption number may appear on the stickers as well. 此乃豁免營養標籤產品 Nutrition Labelling Exempted 此乃豁免 營養標籤產品 Nutrition Labelling Exempted

13. Wordings on Food Packages may be Blacked out or Covered • Food products with low sales volume could be exempted from nutrition labelling if they do not carry any nutrition claims. • Therefore, some traders may black out or cover the wordings on these products’ packages in order to make their products exempted.

14. Wordings on Food Packages may be Blacked out or Covered • Some nutrition claims may not meet certain specific criteria as required by the new Regulation in Hong Kong. • Therefore, traders might black out or cover the relevant wordings on the food packages.

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