Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety launched a pre-statutory voluntary registration scheme on July 1 for importers and distributors of cereal and grain products, herbs, spices, fats, oils, salts, condiments and sauces.

"The Government is planning to introduce a food safety bill, which will require local food importers and distributors to register with the CFS to facilitate the identification of the importers and distributors, tracing the source of food and taking follow-up action in case of any food incident," a CFS spokesman said in a prepared statement.

The first stage has been implemented in phases for importers and distributors of poultry eggs, game, meat and poultry meat, live food animals/poultry, milk, milk beverages, cream and frozen confections, vegetables and fruits, fish and fishery products. From July 1, the CFS will accept registration applications from importers and distributors of cereal and grain products, herbs and spices, fats and oils, salts, condiments and sauces. They are encouraged to register with the CFS their business registration number, address, telephone number and person-in-charge.

The list of importers and distributors will be uploaded onto the CFS website after the information provided by the participating importers and distributors has been collated for the reference of local wholesalers and retailers.