Hong Kong Food Importation Regulation

1. Regulatory Framework

In Hong Kong, foods are regulated under two main ordinances:

1) Cap. 132 Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Part V) and subordinate regulations as follows, covering composition and labeling of food, food hygiene, offences and penalties concerning sale of non-compliant foods, etc.

• Cap. 132W Food and Drugs (Composition and Labeling) Regulations

• Cap. 132H Colouring Matter in Food Regulations

• Cap. 132V Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations

• Cap. 132U Sweeteners in Food Regulations

• Cap. 132BD Preservatives in Food Regulation

• Cap. 132CM Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation

• Cap. 132AF Harmful Substances in Food Regulations

• Cap. 132X Food Business Regulation

• ……

2) Cap. 612 Food Safety Ordinance, covering food safety control including traceability and import control.

 2. Competent authority

3. Market Access

3.1 Importer / Distributor Registration

Any person who carries on food importation/distribution (wholesale) business shall register with FEHD as a food importer/food distributor. If an individual conducts both import and distribution, only one registration as importer is required.

The applicant shall submit an application form specifying business information, contact information, types of imported food and declaration, with supporting documents such as the business registration certificate, Hong Kong identity card(if applicable), and authorization document (if applicable).

Registration is valid for three years and can be renewed within four months before expiry. Detailed information can be found in the Guide to the Registration Scheme for Food Importers and Food Distributors.

3.2 Pre-import Approval

Certain high-risk imported foods including meat, poultry, eggs, milk, milk beverages, frozen confections, and marine products are subject to pre-import approvals to safeguard public health.

1) Milk and milk beverages are subject to approval of manufacturing source

Importers need to apply to the FEHD through the online system at the FTP website or by paper mode and provide the following information:

• Copy of valid registration certificate of the product’s manufacturing plant issued by a competent authority of the place of origin;

• 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.;

• 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;

• Test report showing the chemical composition of the product;

• Test report showing the microbiological quality of the product;

• Declaration by the manufacturer on the shelf-life of the product;

• Sample of empty container of the product;

• 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);

• 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;

• Additional information if required.

The importer permission is valid for one year from the date of issue.

More information can be found in the Guide to Import of Milk and Milk Beverages into HK.

2) Frozen confections are subject to approval of manufacturing source

Importers need to apply to the FEHD through the online system at the FTP website or by paper mode and provide the following information

• Copy of valid registration certificate of the product’s manufacturing plant issued by a competent authority of the place of food origin;

• 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.;

• 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;

• Test report showing the chemical composition of the product;

• Test report showing the microbiological quality of the product;

• Sample of empty container of the product;

• 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);

• 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;

• A list of ingredients endorsed by the manufacturer, in which all ingredients should be listed in descending order of their amounts in the food, and food additives should be listed by their specific names or their INS number. The list should also state the brand name, product name and container size;

• Additional information if required.

The importer permission is valid for one year from the date of issue.

More information can be found in the Guide to Import of Frozen Confections into HK.

3) Frozen or chilled game, meat and poultry are subject to health certificate and import license

The importer shall apply for the import license from the FEHD through the online system at the FTP website or by paper mode. The license application must be supported by a valid health certificate issued by the competent authority of the place of origin. Importantly, an import license is normally valid for one shipment only and for a period of 6 weeks from the date of issue.

Importers who wish to import game, meat and poultry may refer to the information on the Food Import Protocol to ascertain whether the products comply with the requirements for import to Hong Kong.

(Fully cooked game, meat and poultry and game, meat and poultry constitute one of the ingredients of any compounded food are excluded.)

More information can be found in the Guide to Import of Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs into Hong Kong.

4) Eggs are subject to health certificate and import permission

The importer shall apply for the import license from the FEHD through the online system at the FTP website or by paper mode. When making applications, importers should specify the type and quantity of the eggs to be imported and the place of origin of the eggs. The import permission for eggs is valid for six months from the date of issue.

Importers who wish to import eggs may refer to the information on the Food Import Protocol to ascertain whether the products comply with the requirements for import to Hong Kong.

(Fully cooked eggs and eggs that constitute one of the ingredients of any compounded food are excluded.)

More information can be found in the Guide to Application for Permission to Import Eggs.

5) Marine products are encouraged to be accompanied by health certificates

As marine products, being more liable to bacteriological or chemical contamination in the harvesting zone or handling process, are considered as high-risk food items, FEHD strongly encourages importers to obtain health certificates issued by the competent authority of the place of origin to certify that the marine products concerned are fit for human consumption.

More information can be found in the Guide to Import of Marine Products into HK.

Importation of foods other than the above-mentioned high-risk categories does not require prior approval. But FEHD suggests that every consignment of imported foods to be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the competent authority of the place of origin certifying that the food product is fit for human consumption.

3.3 Import Inspection

The importation of high-risk foods and those containing added coloring matters, metals, artificial sweeteners, aflatoxins, erucic acid or other prohibited substances, preservatives or antioxidants may be subject to inspection or sampling by FEHD.

4. Product Compliance

4.1 Compositional Requirement

Hong Kong food regulations specify compositional requirements for certain food categories. Selling non-compliant products is prohibited.

4.2 Usage of Food Additives

4.3 Hygiene Requirements

5. Labeling

5.1 General Labeling Requirements for Prepackaged Foods

The labeling of imported prepackaged foods shall comply with food labeling provisions stated in the Cap. 132W Food and Drugs (Composition and Labeling) Regulations. 

• Mandatory labeling items include:

• Product name

• List of ingredients (including food additives and allergenic substances if added)

• Best before date / Use-by date 

• Storage conditions

• Country of origin

• Name and address of the distributor in Hong Kong

• Net weight, volume or quantity

• Nutrition information

• Other mandatory information if applicable (e.g. special conditions for storage or instructions for use)

Notes：

• Labeling of prepackaged food shall be in either the English or the Chinese language or in both languages.

• Ingredients shall be listed in descending order of weight or volume determined as at the time of their use (excluding water if it constitutes less than 5% by volume of the food).

• Food additive shall be listed by its functional class and its specific name/INS number/E number.

• From the microbiological point of view, if a product (such as pasteurized fresh milk) is highly perishable and is likely to constitute an immediate danger to human health after a short period, then a “use by”date shall be labeled instead of “best before” date.

• Nutrition label must include the information of energy and seven core nutrients (including protein, total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, carbohydrates, sugars and sodium), as well as any other claimed nutrients. Notably, where there is a nutrition claim in relation to any type of fat, the amount of cholesterol needs to be indicated as well. The energy and nutrients content can be expressed as the value per 100 g /mL, or per package if package contains only a single serving, or per serving if the number of servings and the serving size are specified on the package. More information about nutrition labeling and nutrition claims can refer to the Technical Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labeling and Nutrition Claims.

5.2 Special Labeling Requirements for Certain Prepackaged Foods

Milk and milk products

• Separated milk, skimmed milk, partly skimmed milk, condensed or evaporated skimmed milk and condensed or evaporated partly skimmed milk shall bear a label specifying its type and not suitable for children under one year old except under medical advice.

• Milk, reconstituted milk and cream, and beverages containing milk or reconstituted milk should specify the producer information and method of heat-treatment.

• ……

Frozen confections

• Frozen confection shall be clearly in English lettering, with the name and address of the manufacturer.

Irradiated food

• Irradiated food shall be clearly and legibly marked with the words “IRRADIATED” or “TREATED WITH IONIZING RADIATION” in English capital lettering and “辐照食品” in Chinese characters.

……

More requirements can be found in the Cap. 132W Food and Drugs (Composition and Labeling) Regulations.

Dried milk

• Dried skimmed milk, dried partly skimmed milk shall bear a label specifying its type and not suitable for children under one year old except under medical advice. More information can be found in the Cap. 132R Dried Milk Regulations.

Infant and follow-up formula

• Infant formula must label the energy value and the content of 29 nutrients. Follow-up formula must label the energy value and the content of 25 nutrients. More nutrition labeling requirements can be found in the Cap. 132W Food and Drugs (Composition and Labeling) Regulations, and the Technical Guidance Notes on Nutritional Composition and Nutrition Labeling of Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula and Prepackaged Food for Infants and Young Children. 

• Additional labeling requirements such as Batch number, instructions for use with easily understood graphics, warnings, etc shall be comply with the Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Formula Milk and Related Products, and Food Products for Infants & Young Children. 

Recommended resources:

Foodcheck (search tool for food information covering additives, labeling, claim, and contaminants)

Webinar on labeling requirements in Hong Kong S.A.R.: 

#Webinar

Navigate Food Labeling Requirements in China's Taiwan, Hong Kong and MacaoProper labeling is a critical compliance requirement when selling prepackaged foods in international markets. For stakeholders targeting markets in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao, it is essential to understand and adhere to local food labeling regulations to ensure market access and avoid compliance issues.To help stakeholders gain a better understanding of the food labeling requirements in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao, this webinar will provide an overall introduction to the labeling regulations in these regions. It will cover critical aspects including mandatory labeling elements, nutrition labeling, as well as additional requirements for specific food categories such as dairy products, infant formula, and health foods.   The webinar livestreaming is freely available to all users. You are welcome to register for and participate in the webinar. Kindly be aware that the access to the slides, recording, and Q&A collection is limited to ChemLinked premium members only [Upgrade now].Notes: If you can't attend the live webinar, register anyway and we will upload the webinar materials as soon as they're available.

* Global Food Compliance Service

We provide various market entry services to help stakeholders better understand exporting requirements, establish business and secure a competitive place to facilitate trade development.

 Covered Countries

China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand etc.

Our Services

• Food Ingredient Review

• Label Review

• Product Registration

• Regulatory Consultation

• Monitoring, Training and customized report

Please feel free to contact us via [email protected] if you need any help.