Thursday, April 5, 2007
Food Recall Details

Assessment of the Recall

Depending on the imminent risk that may be involved, there are two classes of recall:
(a) Class one recall-emergency situation
This arises when there is a reasonable probability that the use or consumption of the product would cause adverse health consequences or death.

(b) Class two recall-concern situation
The product may have serious defects which represent a potential health risk.

This classification is to be determined by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in consultation with the company concerned. To expedite the classification, the company should provide all information on the 'Food Recall Notification Form'. Other relevant details may include:
(a) availability for investigation of suspect sample or other samples;
(b) assessment of risk; and
(c) proposed recall classification.

Since some of the above information may be of a commercially sensitive or private nature, the Department will, upon request by the company concerned, maintain confidentiality on selected information as and when necessary.
The party initiating the recall should, in consultation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, work out the extent of the recall. In determining the recall level, the principal factors to be considered are the significance of the risk, the channels by which the goods have been distributed and the level to which distribution has taken place.
Product Recovery

Products may be recovered by return to supermarkets, return via distribution chains or direct return from consumers. The product is to be recovered to a central site, or in the case of widely distributed product, to major recovery sites. The recovered product must be stored in an area which is separated from any other food product. Accurate records are to be kept of the amount of recovered product and the batch codes of the product recovered. After recovery, products may be corrected or reprocessed before release to the market if it is fit for human consumption. Otherwise the product is to be destroyed.

Follow-up Action

Post-recall reporting
The party initiating the recall should provide the Department with an interim report as soon as a recall is completed, in any case not later than one month after the announcement of a recall. A final report should be ready within two months of the recall. The reports should contain essential information such as:
(a) the circumstances leading to the recall;
(b) the action taken by the company including details of any publicity;
(c) the extent of distribution of the relevant batch in Hong Kong and overseas;
(d) the result of the recall (quantity of stock returned, corrected, outstanding, etc.);
(e) the proposed method of disposal or otherwise of recalled stock with record of destruction; and
(f) the action proposed to be implemented in future to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

The report helps to establish the effectiveness of the recall. Unless satisfactory reports are received, the Department may consider taking further action, e.g. stepped-up inspection, against the company concerned.

Effectiveness of Recall Action
To be effective, recall notification must reach as far as the product has been distributed. The effectiveness of the recall is assessed upon the amount of product returned as a percentage of the amount of product which left the manufacturer while taking into account the retail turnover of that product.

flowchart.

taken from: http://www.fehd.gov.hk/safefood/safe-recall.html


she's full (: | 1:30 AM|

------