Government Laboratory

Analytical and Advisory Services Division

Food Safety A Section

About the Section

The Section conducts a wide range of analyses covering composition of dairy products, genetically modified organisms (GMO), food contaminants, food allergens, identification of suspected oilfish, swimming-pool water, and seepage investigations. It works closely with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in ensuring the wholesomeness of food products and the protection of public health. Analytical reports produced by the Section are admissible in courts of law as evidence of compliance or otherwise with the legislative requirements.

Responsibilities

The Section helps to implement the following Regulations under the Ordinances of Hong Kong:

Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance
Dried Milk Regulations
Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations
Mineral Oil in Food Regulations
Preservatives in Food Regulations
Evidence Ordinance

Key Personnel

Senior Chemist: Dr. S M Choi (Tel. No.: 2762-3855 E-mail: smchoi@govtlab.gov.hk)

Chemist, Chemical Analyst and Forensic Analyst (E-mail address)	Tel. No.
Dr. L S Cheng, Chemical Analyst (lscheng@govtlab.gov.hk)	2762-3746
Ms. Amber W Y Ha, Forensic Analyst (wyha@govtlab.gov.hk)	2762-3875
Dr. S Y Lau, Chemist (sylau@govtlab.gov.hk)	2762-3861
Dr. C Y Mak, Chemist (cymak@govtlab.gov.hk)	2762-3854
Dr. W L Mak, Forensic Analyst (wlmak@govtlab.gov.hk)	2762-3861
Dr. H S Tang, Chemist (hstang@govtlab.gov.hk)	2762-3854

Quality Assurance

Typical percentage of quality control samples analysed: 15%

This section also participates on a regular basis in the inter-laboratory proficiency testing programs organized by Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs of UK, Central Science Laboratory of UK and Laboratory of the Government Chemist of UK, etc.

Key Instruments

The following instruments are used routinely by the Section:

Gas Chromatograph with Mass Selective Detector
High Performance Liquid Chromatographs with Ultraviolet/Visible Detector, Scanning Fluorescence Detector, Photodiode Array Detector, Differential Refractometer Detector and Mass Spectrometer
Digital Polarimeter
Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction System
DNA Sequencing System

Targets and Key Indicators

Key Performance Measures Relating to the Statutory Testing of Samples

Targets

Testing of Samples*	Targets	2006 (Actual)	2007 (Actual)	2008 (Plan)
Food samples for regulatory compliance purposes within target reporting time averaging 19 working days (%)	95	98	97	95
Seepage and swimming pool water samples within target reporting time averaging ten working days (%)	96@	99	100	96

*	Different samples require different analytical procedures, thus different target reporting time applies. The quoted number of working days required represents an average of target reporting time for the different samples within the category.
@	The target has been revised from 95% to 96% with effect from 2008.

Key Indicators

Tests Performed on Samples	2006 (Actual)	2007 (Actual)	2008 (Estimate)
Food samples for regulatory compliance purposes#	112,421	158,735	130,000
Seepage and swimming pool water samples	33,096	20,773	18,000

#	It is the total number of tests conducted by the Food safety A to E Sections

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