Big rules move set to ban mini konjac jelly cups
The Centre for Food Safety says it will continue educating the public on the choking dangers of jellies that contain konjac. Photo: RTHK
The Centre for Food Safety says proposals for new regulations covering konjac-containing jelly confectionery to avoid choking incidents will be tabled in the Legislative Council next week.
The amendments include a ban on konjac-containing jelly products coming in cups with heights and widths of under 45 millimetres.
Labels cautioning against swallowing a jelly whole as well as elderly and children consumption without supervision should also be clearly underlined.
The centre says there is likely to be a small effect on current trade as its market survey shows that only about 8 percent of konjac-containing jelly products fall under the regulated size.
The new regulations are expected to take effect starting from April, about six months after negative vetting.
The centre's community medicine consultant, Dr Terence Cheung, says that will give the trade enough time to make the necessary adjustments to warning labels on products.
"Well actually we have consulted Legislative Council members and we did not hear any significant objection on these proposed amendments," he said.
He added that the centre will conduct inspections on products that are on the market and check for violations.
Cheung said warning letters will be issued before the commencement of the regulations, and enforcement actions will be taken afterwards, with offenders facing fines of HK$50,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.
"We are planning to conduct technical meetings with the trade, and prepare trade guidelines to facilitate them to comply with our new requirements," he said.
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