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In response to the comment of a radio programme host on the "one licence one shop" policy for the sale of meat, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (May 24) that the policy was adopted after consulting meat traders, importers, local farmers, supermarkets and the legislature.
The spokesman refuted the programme host﷿s claim that the idea reported in some of the newspapers this morning was another example of using "test balloon" to gauge public opinion.
"There have been divergent views on the issue in our consultation in the past two years. However, majority members of the Legislative Council's Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene have requested the Administration to adopt the 'one shop, one licence' policy.
"In January 2005, the panel passed a motion urging the Administration to adopt such a policy while in February 2006, the panel urged the Administration to introduce legislation to implement the policy as soon as possible.
"We are now drafting amendments to the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132 sub legislation) to prohibit the sale of fresh pork, beef or mutton with any chilled/frozen pork, beef or mutton in the same premises," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:08
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