Centre for Food Safety explained

Agency Name:Centre for Food Safety
Nativename:食物安全中心
Headquarters:43/F Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong
Region Code:HK
Chief1 Name:Dr WONG Wang, Christine
Chief1 Position:Controller, Centre for Food Safety
Parent Agency:Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Website:www.cfs.gov.hk

Centre for Food Safety (CFS;) is the food safety authority of the Hong Kong government. Its mission is to ensure food is safe and fit for consumption through tripartite collaboration among the government, food trade, and consumers. The CFS was created in May 2006 under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Environment and Ecology Bureau.

History

Plans to form a separate agency to specifically tackle food safety were proposed in 2005, following multiple food safety incidents including an outbreak of Streptococcus suis and freshwater fish contaminated with malachite green.[1] [2] At its initial conception, the centre was expected to take a similar structure as the Centre for Health Protection, and bring together experts from various fields to tackle food safety issues.

A proposal for the centre was rejected by the Legislative Council on 18 January 2006, citing concerns of marginalising veterinarians and lacking clarity.[3] [4]

Within the first months after the centre is set up, legislators complained that the centre had been doing too little to effective control food safety in Hong Kong.[5]

Logo

The department's orange colour is adopted in the Centre logo plus the green colour representing "safety and hope". The letters 'C', 'F' and 'S' are abbreviation for Centre for Food Safety.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Benitez. Mary Ann. Dedicated food safety centre proposed. South China Morning Post. 20 August 2005. 12 April 2015.
  2. News: Lee. Ella. Director baulks at food-safety centre. South China Morning Post. 20 September 2005. 12 April 2015.
  3. News: Benitez. Mary Ann. Proposal for food safety centre sent back to the drawing board. South China Morning Post. 18 January 2006.
  4. News: Benitez. Mary Ann. Health chiefs in rallying call for food safety centre. South China Morning Post. 19 January 2006.
  5. News: Lam. Agnes. Food safety centre 'can do more'. South China Morning Post. 25 July 2006.