FEHD strives to ensure food safety of school lunch boxes
To ensure food safety and hygiene awareness among schools and licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, and to cater for the new school year, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) stepped up inspections of licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes in various districts of Hong Kong and collected food samples for testing.
A spokesman for the FEHD said today (October 9), "Since July, the Department has inspected 46 licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes and reminded operators of the proper way of handling school lunch boxes. At present, the CFS has collected 90 lunch box samples from those licensed food factories for microbiological examinations. Test results of all samples were satisfactory. The operation is ongoing."
Furthermore, to safeguard food safety on campuses, the CFS has arranged a series of online seminars for schools since July, highlighting food safety hazards such as choking and food allergies, and emphasising the need for vigilance among teaching staff and food handlers in schools. At the same time, schools are also reminded to order lunch boxes from suppliers that hold a valid Food Factory Licence issued by the FEHD and are endorsed to provide lunch boxes. Before signing contracts with suppliers, schools should visit the premises to ensure that food handlers observe food safety and hygiene practices.
The CFS has published "A Practical Guide for Ensuring Food Safety in Schools and Childcare Facilities", to which schools and childcare facilities can refer when choosing lunchbox suppliers and ensuring food safety on campus. Lunch box caterers can make use of the guideline "Developing a School Food Safety Plan Based on HACCP system (for School Lunch Box Caterers)" to learn more about how to enhance the safety of lunch box production. For further details, please visit the "Safe Food at School" thematic webpage (cfs.gov.hk/school).
FEHD strives to ensure food safety of school lunch boxes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD strives to ensure food safety of school lunch boxes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two suspected illicit cigarette distribution cases
Hong Kong Customs yesterday and today (October 8 and 9) detected two suspected illicit cigarette distribution cases in Kwai Chung and Wong Tai Sin. A total of about 1.27 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $5.74 million and a duty potential of about $4.2 million, were seized.
In the first case, Customs conducted anti-illicit cigarette operations in the vicinity of Kwai Chung yesterday evening. Customs officers intercepted two lorries on the roadside of Kwai Hei Street. Customs officers found about 1.27 million suspected illicit cigarettes in one of the lorries and arrested two men aged 30 and 46 who were moving the goods. They claimed to be a driver and a logistics worker. After a preliminary investigation, Customs officers further arrested a 31-year-old woman on the spot, who claimed to be unemployed, for further investigation. Customs will continue to trace the source and whereabouts of the illicit cigarettes. The three arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.
In the second case, Customs conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Wong Tai Sin this morning. About 4 500 suspected illicit cigarettes were seized in a store near Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate, and a 44-year-old male person-in-charge of the store was arrested. The arrested man has been charged with "dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies" and will appear at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on October 23.
Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Hong Kong Customs detects two suspected illicit cigarette distribution cases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two suspected illicit cigarette distribution cases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
