Keith Mussar of the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters says HK is well-placed internationally to lead the testing mechanism for global standards

Hong Kong can be an important testing centre for foodstuffs and other exports destined for global markets, according to Keith Mussar, a food safety specialist working with the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters.

Amid concerns following product recalls from the Chinese mainland, Mr Mussar says Hong Kong is well-placed to control standards before shipping, and to influence better safety procedures on the mainland.

His comments coincided with a symposium in Shanghai addressing the recent food and toy product recalls.

Mr Mussar says that while recalls are "something I would definitely prefer not to have", there is a positive side. Recalls, which are voluntary, demonstrate that the checks and balances in the supply chain are working, and that companies or governments are prepared to act to protect consumers.

He called for a global safety standard mechanism on food and other products, adding that there was no short-term solution.

Minimising risk

"Product recall will continue to occur, even after standards have been put in place," Mr Mussar said. "New strains of bacteria are evolving, and new forms of things like avian influenza will continue to happen. But the beauty of this is that as we develop good practices for product recall we will minimise the risk of exposure to consumers, and that's the long-term benefit."

There are many overlapping issues around safety: toys could have poisons in them; there are heavy metals in food as well as consumer products. But Mr Mussar says one set of standards could easily be applied. Lessons learned from country-specific issues as products move around the world could be used to modify and improve standards, thus closing the gap.

"In the meantime, our ability to be able to effectively recall products will continue to miminse the risk of consumers being exposed to undue risk in those instances where a new problem arises," Mr Mussar said.

He noted that Hong Kong is well-placed internationally to lead the testing mechanism for global product standards.

Influencing China

"Many of the business decisions to import products from Canada or North America are made in Hong Kong, so the kinds of standards Hong Kong puts in place will not only apply to its own export products but also influence the emerging set of standards and conditions from mainland China," Mr Mussar said.
 
Hong Kong already has its own standards, with laboratories for testing products such as toys. Mr Mussar sees opportunities for joint ventures between US and Chinese companies allowing products to be safety tested in Hong Kong for expedited entry into foreign jurisdictions. "I think that is a long-term model that the world is going to accept, and Hong Kong has an opportunity to be in the forefront of doing that."

Hong Kong can lead testing mechanism for global product standards