The Hong Kong authorities have launched a public consultation on proposals for stricter oversight of health claims made on foods aimed at infants and young children.
In Hong Kong, nutrient content claims, nutrient comparative claims and nutrient function claims are regulated by the Food and Drugs Compositional Labelling Regulations (Cap.132W). However, under the current system, nutrition and health claims for formula products are not covered by existing regulation. Hong Kong’s Food and Health Bureau is proposing that should be amended.
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FHB said: “The government is committed to protecting the health of infants and young children. With a view to achieving this aim, this consultation document puts forward a proposal for a regulatory framework on nutrition and health claims for formula products and IYC [infant and young children] foods.”
The government has put forward proposals for five principles that would govern the evolution of a new regulatory framework for companies manufacturing food for infants and young children. These are: nutrition claims should be prohibited in infant formula; reduction of disease risk claims should be prohibited in infant formula and IYC foods; nutrition claims and nutrient function claims should be permitted in IYC foods; these claims should be based on nutrients of “high importance to the health of infants and young children”; and claims must be substantiated and have undergone a “credible evaluation process”.
The Hong Kong government is seeking public comment on its proposals.
To view the consultation document in full, click here.
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