FOOD AND DRUGS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1961

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Dr Sheng Nam Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion standing in the name of the Minister for Health, namely,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (3) of section 28 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance (Chapter 148), resolves that the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Regulations, 1961, published as Notification No. S. 36 in the Gazette Supplement No. 12 of the 10th February, 1961, as contained in Paper S.L. 3 of 1961, be approved.

The Regulations which are the subject of this motion are designed to broaden the scope of our food and drugs legislation. The Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance provides for the sale of food and drugs in a pure state and for such necessary controls over the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of food and drugs, so that the public are protected and can obtain articles of a high quality and composition.

The principal Regulations under this - Ordinance were published in 1957, and, the past 3½ years' experience in applying them has shown the need to improve and to add to the 1957 Regulations. Moreover, changes in food technology occurring during this time have brought forth new substances and techniques which were not permitted previously, but which can now be advantageously permitted under prescribed conditions.

The Regulations before you, Sir, refer particularly to three aspects of food and drugs control. Firstly, various provisions now permit the addition of Vitamins A and D to milk and prescribe adequate standards for such enrichment. Emulsifiers are now permitted in milks as a result of advances in food technology. Half-cream and vitaminised skimmed milk are now permitted free sale under prescribed standards. Regulations 2, 3, and 4 have reference.

Secondly, hitherto certain colouring matters were prescribed as prohibited colouring matters, and in this context all other colouring matters were permitted. In accordance with current practice, these have been revised and a list of permitted colouring matters has been drawn up, thereby excluding all other colouring matters. The object of this amendment is to ensure that newer and possibly dangerous and toxic colouring matters developed as a result of advances in the chemical field do not become freely used. Regulations 5 and 6 and Schedule A have reference.

Thirdly, in the principal Regulations, anti-oxidants or substances which prevent or delay rancidity were not defined but were left to be approved individually by the Chief Chemist. It is considered that generally accepted anti-oxidants should be specifically defined and these now appear in Schedule H of the amending Regulations, where the type of anti-oxidant and the permitted quantity are defined.

Besides these changes, the opportunity was taken to do away with the complex set of forms shown in Schedule C of the principal Regulations, and to replace them by a simpler and more convenient single form to be issued administratively by the Minister. In short, these Regulations will broaden the controls on milk, colouring matters and anti-oxidants in the light of current practice and improve our Food and Drugs Control laws.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (3) of section 28 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance (Chapter 148), resolves that the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Regulations, 1961, published as Notification No. S 36 in the Gazette Supplement No. 12 of the 10th February, 1961, as contained in Paper S.L. 3 of 1961, be approved.