1. Get To Know The New Nutrition Labelling Scheme

2. Information on Food Labels
Some consumers may be a little confused about food label and nutrition label. In fact, nutrition label is part of a food label.
According to the existing Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations, the following information shall be marked on the label of prepackaged food:
Name of the food
It shall be legibly marked and shall not be false, misleading or deceptive to the nature of the food.
List of ingredients
Ingredients shall be listed in descending order of weight or volume determined as the time of their use when the food was packaged.
Allergenic substances stated in the law should be labelled if they are present in the food.
Functional class of an additive and its specific name or international identification number (with or without the prefix “E”or “e” ) should be specified if it is used.
Indication of durability
“Use by“ or "best before" dates.
Statement of special conditions for storage or instructions for use
Name and address of manufacturer or packer
Count, weight or volume

3. Nutrition Information on Food Labels: Nutrition Label
Nutrition label is a systematic way of presenting nutrition information of food products. It is usually in a tabular format with a heading like “Nutrition Information”, “Nutrition Facts” or “Nutrition Label”.
In Hong Kong, the presentation of nutrition label on food package is voluntary before the commencement of the new legislation. When the new Regulation becomes effective from 1 July 2010, prepackaged foods must have nutrition labels.

4. Nutrition Information on Food Labels: Nutrition Claim
Claims which are used to emphasise selected nutritional properties of foods, such as “low fat” and “high calcium”, are often found on food packages. These claims are known as nutrition claims.
Nutrition claims will be regulated when the new legislation becomes effective, and food products must meet certain specified conditions before making the claims.

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.
As of June 2009, countries implementing mandatory nutrition labelling include: the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc.
Countries requiring mandatory nutrition labelling for foods with nutrition claims include: the Mainland China, the European Union countries, Japan, Singapore etc.

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 Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008
Nutrition information on Food Labels
Nutrition Labelling
Nutrition Claims
Nutrient content claims
Nutrient function claims
Nutrient comparative claims
The new Regulation on nutrition labelling and nutrition claim is known as Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling)(Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008.
The new Regulation covers nutrition labelling and nutrition claim.
Regarding nutrition labelling, the new Regulation requires prepackaged food to have nutrition labels which set out the content information of energy plus seven specified nutrients.
The new Regulation will also regulate nutrition claims (including nutrient content claim, nutrient comparative claim and nutrient function 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.
Examples of general prepackaged food: non-alcoholic prepackaged beverages, canned foods, biscuits, snacks, candies, etc.
“1+7” refers to energy plus seven specified nutrients for labelling (including protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates, sugars and sodium).
Nutrition claims will be regulated. Food products bearing nutrition claims must meet certain specified conditions, e.g.
Product with “Low fat” claim should contain not more than 3 g of fat per 100 g of solid food; or not more than 1.5 g of fat per 100 mL of liquid food.
Product with “Low sodium” claim should contain not more than 120 mg of sodium per 100 g/mL of food.
Product with “Low sugars” claim should contain not more than 5 g of sugars per 100 g/mL of food.

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.
Example of practical difficulty for providing nutrition label: very small packages e.g. a container with a total surface area of less than 100 cm2.
Examples of food containing insignificant amount (nearly zero) of energy and specified nutrients: tea leaves, spices and distilled water.
Examples of fresh food without any addition of ingredients or is not subject to processing: fresh fruits and vegetables, raw meat.
Example of prepackaged food sold at a catering establishment for immediate consumption: prepackaged sandwiches sold in a fast food shop.

12. Examples of Food Exempted from Nutrition Label
Prepackaged food with small sales volume
Annual sales volume of 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
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.

15. End