8. Safety Parameters
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8. Safety Parameters

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Article summary

Beers and RTDs
Hong Kong


This section provides the safety parameters (microbiological, contaminants, heavy metals, pesticides, veterinary residues, and food contact materials).

8.1 Microbiological Standards


Provision, Limits, Testing Methods

Foodstuff/General Food


Microbiological Guidelines for Food [1]


Category

Alcoholic drinks

Same as "General Food" above.

Product
Beer

Same as "Category" (alcoholic drinks) above.

Product

Ready-to-drink beverages (mainly Chuhai)

Same as "Category" (alcoholic drinks) above.

8.2 Contaminants and Heavy Metals


Provision, Limits, Testing Methods

Foodstuff/General Food


Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations [2] regulate per food/food group:

  • 7 metals (i.e. antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and tin)
  • 7 additional metallic contaminants, namely barium, boron, copper, manganese, nickel, selenium, and uranium.

Category

Alcoholic drinks

Lead – Wine- 0.2mg/kg.

Tin - Canned beverages- 150 mg/kg 
Product
Beer

No specific requirements for Beer (please refer to the requirements for Alcoholic Drinks above).

Product

Ready-to-drink beverages (mainly Chuhai)

No specific requirements for ready-to-drink beverages (please refer to requirements for Alcoholic Drinks above).

8.3 Pesticides


Provision, Limits, Testing Methods

Foodstuff/General Foods


Refer to Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132, section 55(1)) [3].


Pesticide MRL generally applies to food commodities such as fruits, vegetables, and grains such as barley and rice.


Category

Alcoholic drinks

No specific requirement for alcoholic drinks. 

Product
Whisky

No specific requirement for Beer.

Product

Ready-to-drink beverages (mainly Chuhai)

No specific requirement for ready-to-drink beverages.

8.4 Veterinary Standards


Provision, Limits, Testing Methods

Foodstuff/General Foods


Refer to Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132, section 55(1)) [4].

Category

Alcoholic drinks

No specific requirement for alcoholic drinks.

Product
Beer

No specific requirement for Beer.

Product

Ready-to-drink beverages (mainly Chuhai)

No specific requirement for ready-to-drink beverages.

8.5 Food Contact Materials

Please refer to the other reports on packaging requirements for food contact materials and packaging requirements for food contact materials (hygiene standard) in Hong Kong.

8.6 References

1. Microbiological Guidelines for Food 

https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/food_leg/files/food_leg_Microbiological_Guidelines_for_Food_e.pdf

2. Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (“the Amendment Regulation”)

https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20182223/es220182223113.pdf 

Its guideline

https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fstr/files/Metal%20guidelines-eng.pdf

3. Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132, section 55(1)) 

https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap132CM 

4. Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132, section 55(1)) 

https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap132AF


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