With the commencement of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Documentation for Import and Export) Regulation in March 2011, there are documentation requirements for shipments containing living modified organisms. The Food Safety Ordinance, a new food law, which introduces a food tracing mechanism by requiring traders to register and keep trade records commenced in August 2011 with a six-month grace period. New legislative initiatives for 2012 include mandatory certification requirements for egg imports and the introduction of Hong Kong’s new pesticide regulation. Updates on Hong Kong’s proposed pesticide framework are provided in Section V. The Hong Kong government is working on a seafood import protocol with various individual governments with a view to introducing mandatory certification requirements for seafood products. Duties on cigarettes and cigars were increased in 2011.
