Business Consultation e-Platform
Access consultation information relating to proposed regulations, administrative measures and procedures that would impact business and to offer views and comments.
Note: The archives are under construction. If you wish to access documents in the archives, please contact us at dbf@digitalpolicy.gov.hk
Current Consultation Exercises
| Proposed Amendments to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap.132V) | |
|---|---|
| Consultation Period | 16 December 2024 to 16 February 2025 |
| Bureau / Department | Food and Environmental Hygiene Department |
| Brief Description |
One of the initiatives set out in the Supplement of the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address is to review food safety standards regarding metal content in food under the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations with reference to international standards and practices, with a view to formulating legislative amendment proposals and launching public consultation in 2024-25. The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have reviewed Cap. 132V. The proposed amendments keep Codex standards as the backbone and supplemented with food standards of the Mainland and other major food importing places. |
| Major Affected Business Group(s)* | Food importer, manufacturers, retailers and food service providers. |
| How the major Business Group(s) will be affected by the new regulations /administrative measures and procedures under consultation: |
Salient features of the proposed amendments
|
| The B/Ds concerned are seeking specific views from SMEs on proposed regulatory requirement that would have significant potential impact: | See the row above. |
| Consultation Document(s) |
Environment and Ecology Bureau Centre for Food Safety |
| E-mail Your Comments to | metal_consultation@fehd.gov.hk |
| Consultation activities | Event date/start time & end time | Venue | Target audience | Remarks | |
| 1. | Consultation forum | 27 December 2024 (Friday) 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm |
Conference Room, 1/F, New Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong |
Public and food trade | Physical meeting |
| 2. | Consultation forum | 17 January 2025 (Friday) 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm |
Online Video Conferencing (Zoom Cloud Meeting) | Public and food trade | Online Video Conferencing (Zoom Cloud Meeting) |
Ref No.: 10239C
| Proposed updates to safety standards for toys and children’s products | |
|---|---|
| Consultation Period | 2 December 2024 to 2 January 2025 |
| Bureau / Department | Commerce and Economic Development Bureau |
| Brief Description | To update Schedules 1 and 2 to the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424) (the Ordinance) to implement up-to-date safety standards promulgated by the relevant standardisation bodies for toys and children’s products listed in Schedule 2 (Schedule 2 products). |
| Major Affected Business Group(s)* | Toys or children’s products manufacturers, importers and suppliers |
| How the major Business Group(s) will be affected by the new regulations /administrative measures and procedures under consultation: | No person shall manufacture, import or supply a toy or a Schedule 2 product unless it complies with all the applicable requirements contained in any one of the safety standards specified in Schedule 1 or 2 to the Ordinance. |
| The B/Ds concerned are seeking specific views from SMEs on proposed regulatory requirement that would have significant potential impact: | Toys or Schedule 2 products supplied in Hong Kong must comply with the up-to-date safety standards upon their adoption so as to protect child safety. |
| Consultation Document(s) |
Consultation Document Annex |
| E-mail Your Comments to | tcpso_standards_updates@cedb.gov.hk |
Ref No.: 10238C
Upcoming Consultation Exercises
There is no upcoming consultation for the time being.
Archives of Consultation Documents & Related Reports
| Arrangements for the Frequency Spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz Band upon Expiry of the Existing Assignments for the Provision of Public Mobile Services and the Related Spectrum Utilisation Fee | |
|---|---|
| Closing Date of Consultation | 31 October 2024 |
| Bureau / Department | Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and Office of the Communications Authority |
| Brief Description | The existing term of assignment of 50 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band will expire in May 2028. This consultation invites views and comments of the telecommunications industry and other interested parties on the proposals relating to the arrangements for re assignment of the spectrum concerned for the provision of public mobile services upon expiry of the existing assignments and the related spectrum utilisation fee. |
| Consultation Document(s) |
CA’s website CEDB’s website (English version only) |
| Ref No. | 10236A |
| Consultation on the Future Arrangement of the Standing Offer Agreement for Quality Professional Services | |
|---|---|
| Closing Date of Consultation | 22 October 2024 |
| Bureau / Department | Digital Policy Office |
| Brief Description | The current Standing Offer Agreement for Quality Professional Services 5 will expire in early 2026. To draw up a new procurement arrangement, the Digital Policy Office is now consulting the IT industry to solicit views and comments on improvements to the present arrangement. |
| Consultation Document(s) | Consultation Document |
| Consultation Result(s) | Written feedback |
| Ref No. | 10235A |
| Public Consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence | |
|---|---|
| Closing Date of Consultation | 8 September 2024 |
| Bureau / Department | Commerce and Economic Development Bureau / Intellectual Property Department |
| Brief Description |
The Chief Executive announced in the 2023 Policy Address that the Government will
conduct consultation in 2024 to explore further enhancement of the Copyright Ordinance
(Cap.528) regarding protection for AI technology development. The major issues in the consultation include copyright protection of works generated by AI, copyright infringement liability for AI-generated works, possible introduction of specific copyright exception, as well as other AI-related issues (i.e. deepfakes and transparency). |
| Consultation Document(s) | Consultation Document |
| Consultation Result(s) | Written Submissions |
| Ref No. | 10234A |
| Consultation on Proposed Subsidiary Legislation for Specification of Libraries, Museums and Archives and Prescribed Conditions for Certain Permitted Acts under the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528) | |
|---|---|
| Closing Date of Consultation | 15 April 2024 |
| Bureau / Department | Commerce and Economic Development Bureau / Intellectual Property Department |
| Brief Description | To invite comments and views to the legislative proposal for specifying the types and classes of libraries, museums and archives which are eligible to do the relevant permitted acts under the Ordinance, and prescribing the applicable conditions for each of these permitted acts. |
| Consultation Document(s) | Consultation Document |
| Consultation Result(s) | Written Submissions |
| Ref No. | 10233A |
| Product certification arrangement under the regulation on the use of electric mobility devices (EMDs) | |
|---|---|
| Closing Date of Consultation | 6 April 2024 |
| Bureau / Department | Transport Department |
| Brief Description | Consultation regarding the introduction of a certification scheme for compliant EMDs to be used in Hong Kong under a proposing regulatory framework. |
| Consultation Document(s) | Proposed Product Certification Scheme for Electric Mobility Devices |
| Consultation Result(s) | The Transport Department collected technical views from the industry and stakeholders regarding the proposed certification scheme to be introduced under the regulatory arrangement of EMDs in Hong Kong. The Transport Department will further liaise with relevant departments on the implementation plan and arrangements for the certification scheme under the proposed regulatory framework. |
| Ref No. | 10217A |
| Regulation of Medical Gases as Pharmaceutical Products | |
|---|---|
| Closing Date of Consultation | 19 January 2024 |
| Bureau / Department | Department of Health |
| Brief Description |
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138, Laws of Hong Kong)
(“Ordinance”), pharmaceutical products must fulfil the criteria of safety, efficacy and
quality, and be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (“Board”) before they
could be sold or supplied in Hong Kong. The Department of Health is responsible for
providing professional and executive support to the Board. In light of the endorsement to regulate medical gases as pharmaceutical products under the Ordinance in Hong Kong by the Board, new guidance notes have been drafted which cover the (i) registration requirements of medical gases as pharmaceutical products; and (ii) licensing requirements of manufacturers and wholesalers of medical gases. Meanwhile, current version of “Guidance on Qualification, Experience and Training Requirements for Authorized Persons and Other Key Personnel of Licensed Manufacturers in Hong Kong” would be revised accordingly. The Department of Health invites comments and views from the public on the newly draft or revised guidance notes. |
| Consultation Document(s) |
Guidance Notes of the Regulation of Medical Gases as Pharmaceutical
Products Regulation of Medical Gases as Pharmaceutical Products |
| Consultation Result(s) |
The Department of Health provides professional and executive support to the Pharmacy and
Poisons Board of Hong Kong (the “Board”). The Department of Health received a total of 13 responses, with 2 responses from private hospitals, 2 responses from associations, 2 responses from the Fire Services Department and 7 responses from suppliers. The Department of Health reviewed and consolidated the comments for consideration by the Board on the proposed control of medical gases. The overall responses were in support of the regulatory control of medical gases. The Board considered the comments and decided at its meeting on 14 June 2024 to regulate medical gases as pharmaceutical products under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) and endorsed the revised Guidance Notes. The finalised Guidance Notes are available at the Board’s website (www.ppbhk.org.hk/eng/index.html). |
| Ref No. | 10231A |
| Proposed Amendments to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) | |
|---|---|
| Closing Date of Consultation | 30 September 2023 |
| Bureau / Department | Environment and Ecology Bureau / Food and Environmental Hygiene Department |
| Brief Description |
One of the initiatives set out in the Policy Measures of the Chief Executive’s 2022
Policy Address is to review and update by phases the food safety legislation relating to
additives in food to further enhance food safety. The first phase covers preservatives
and antioxidants in food. This consultation document sets out the proposal to update the
regulatory control of preservatives and antioxidants in food, so as to enhance
protection to consumers, promote harmonisation of local and international food safety
standards, and facilitate the food trade. The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have reviewed Cap. 132BD. The proposed amendments keep Codex standards as the backbone and supplemented with food standards of the Mainland and other major food trading partners. |
| Consultation Document(s) |
Environment and Ecology Bureau Centre for Food Safety |
| Consultation Result(s) |
Proposed Amendments to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap.
132BD) - Public Consultation Document Results of Public Consultation |
| Ref No. | 10218A |
| Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS) on Plastic Beverage Containers | |
|---|---|
| Closing Date of Consultation | 21 May 2021 |
| Bureau / Department | Environmental Protection Department |
| Brief Description | To seek the public’s view on the introduction of PRS on plastic beverage containers, which aims to require the relevant stakeholders to share the eco-responsibilities in recovering and recycling plastic beverage containers. |
| Consultation Document(s) | Consultation Document |
| Consultation Result(s) | Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs paper |
| Ref No. | 10197A |
Business Impact Assessment
Another work focus of business facilitation is to encourage bureaux and departments (B/Ds) to assess the business impact before introducing new regulatory/licensing requirements so as to better take into consideration the operational circumstances and capacity of the trades and understand the costs associated with compliance of the regulatory requirements.
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