Is it required by law that all prepackaged food should have nutrition labelling?

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008 came into force on 1 July 2010. According to the Regulation, all applicable prepackaged food products will have to provide nutrition labels setting out the contents of energy and 7 nutrients specified for labelling (protein, total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, carbohydrates, sugars and sodium).  However, formula or food intended to be consumed principally by children under the age of 36 months and food for special dietary uses are not covered by the Regulation.

In addition, some food are exempted from the requirements of nutrition labelling, including：

1. products with practical difficulty in providing the labels like those with very small packages of total surface area of less than 100 sq cm;  
2. fresh, chilled, frozen and dried fruit and vegetable without added ingredients, and raw meat;
3. foods which contain insignificant amount (nearly zero) of energy and specified nutrients (e.g. mineral water); and
4. Food with annual sales volume not exceeding 30 000 units (these food will have stickers in circular, square or rectangular shapes on the packages to indicate their exemption status; the trade must apply to the FEHD for exemption from the nutrition labelling requirement beforehand.  Please contact Small Volume Exemption Office at 3583 3653 for enquiries. )

Please refer to the webpage of Nutrition Labelling Scheme at http://www.nutritionlabel.gov.hk for details.