Application for certification of food supplied to Hong Kong
The food supply mark for Hong Kong is the G-Mark certification quality certification mark. If an enterprise or its food production uses the food supply mark for Hong Kong, it can apply according to the following process:
The applicant enterprise or organization shall obtain the application form and relevant information from G-Mark, fill out the “Application Form for the Use of Food Labels for Hong Kong” and the “Enterprise Production Situation Survey Form”, and submit them together with the relevant information to the G-Mark Committee for review. Since Hong Kong has clear classification details for the testing of food supplied to Hong Kong, and the testing of each type of food is slightly different, G-Mark will assist companies in the application process according to the applied food classification. For relevant food classification, please refer to Part C (iii) of this page for food classification reference.
On-site inspection: Based on the company’s application, the G-Mark review committee will assign food labeling personnel for Hong Kong to conduct on-site inspections of the applicant company. The examiner will inspect the production site conditions, management system, environmental monitoring and assessment results, etc. based on the application content. The application materials will be initially reviewed, and the preliminary review materials will be submitted to the G-Mark Review Committee for verification.
Sampling inspection: G-Mark will conduct a preliminary review of the above application materials. If the preliminary review is qualified, the second product quality inspection will be carried out. If the preliminary review materials do not meet the requirements, a preliminary review opinion will be issued. The enterprise should receive the preliminary review opinion within two months. Provide truthful answers and corrections to relevant questions. If there are any issues that violate principles in the materials, the application will not be approved and the enterprise’s application will no longer be accepted within 12 months.
Final review and certification: Test results that are both qualified in environmental testing and food testing will be reported to the G-Mark Review Committee for final review. If qualified, the company will be notified to go through the procedures for signing the “Agreement for the Use of Food Marks for Hong Kong”. G-Mark will be responsible for the above. Qualified products will be numbered and issued a certificate for the use of the Hong Kong food mark.
Arbitration mechanism: If the applicant has any objection to the environmental monitoring results or product testing results, it can submit an arbitration testing application to the G-Mark Review Committee. G-Mark entrusts two independent monitoring agencies or committee representatives to re-test and make a ruling based on relevant regulations.
The “Food Supply to Hong Kong” certificate requires annual inspection and review of enterprises and institutions every year to ensure and verify that enterprises and institutions continue to maintain standards in terms of management and equipment. The certificate issued for renewal application will list the renewal period for identification. The longer the company’s certificate renewal period is, the higher the sustainability of its food management quality. The validity period of the certificate for the use of the food label for Hong Kong is divided into half a year and one year according to the food preservation category. During this period, the food production enterprises for Hong Kong must accept the monitoring agency entrusted by G-Mark to conduct random inspections and annual inspections of their products, and comply with the “Food Label for Hong Kong” “Use Agreement”, if you want to continue to use the food supply logo for Hong Kong after the expiration, you must go through the re-application procedures three months before the expiration for logo review for continued use.
Application fee
| Certificate | Certificate fee | Annual labeling fee | Environmental testing fee | Food testing fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application for “Certificate of Food Supply to Hong Kong” | $5,800/year | $2,000/year | $3,000-12,000 | $3,000-12,000 |
| License renewal application | $3,000/year | $2,000/year | $3,000-12,000 | $3,000-12,000 |
G-Mark only charges administrative fees for certificate application and review, and annual labeling fees for follow-up administrative fees. The remaining environmental testing and food testing fees are paid according to government and internationally recognized testing and laboratory fees. All fee payments are carried out in three stages. Environmental Food samples will be tested only if the test meets the standard. Only if the two tests meet the standard, the annual fee for the “Certificate of Food Supply to Hong Kong” must be paid.
Incident handling
After the applicant is approved by the final review committee and is issued a certificate, if an accident occurs in its products or services due to corporate and organizational management or other issues, G-Mark has the right to require the applicant to immediately report the cause and solution of the accident. G-Mark has the right to immediately report the cause of the accident and the solution according to the situation. The right to use the relevant certificate is revoked, and the certificate holder has no right to make any objections and claims, and it will be handled in accordance with the “Agreement on the Use of Food Labels for Hong Kong”.
All audits and re-inspections of food supplied to Hong Kong are conducted in accordance with Hong Kong laws and guidelines, including food import control and safety guidelines, Hong Kong imported food guidelines, frozen meat, chilled meat, refrigerated poultry and chilled poultry import licenses Application Guidelines, Food Recycling Guidelines, Code of Hygiene Practice for Aseptic Packaged Low-Acid Food, Registration System for Food Importers and Food Distributors, Code of Practice for Food Safety Orders, Food Safety Ordinance Chapter 612, etc. Examples of classification of food supplies to Hong Kong that can be declared sub for reference.
Review instructions
All audits and re-inspections of food supplied to Hong Kong are conducted in accordance with Hong Kong laws and guidelines, including food import control and safety guidelines, Hong Kong imported food guidelines, frozen meat, chilled meat, refrigerated poultry and chilled poultry import licenses Application Guidelines, Food Recycling Guidelines, Code of Hygiene Practice for Aseptic Packaged Low-Acid Food, Registration System for Food Importers and Food Distributors, Code of Practice for Food Safety Orders, Food Safety Ordinance Chapter 612, etc. Examples of classification of food supplies to Hong Kong that can be declared sub for reference.
Appendix
| Part C (iii) Food Classification | Part C (iv) Food Examples |
|---|---|
| Cereals, rice, wheat | Barley, buckwheat, oats, sorghum, sago, barley, white rice, brown rice, glutinous rice, wheat, wheat germ |
| Pasta products, noodles | Rice noodles, oil noodles, ramen, dumpling wrappers, fish noodles, Yi noodles, whole egg noodles, instant rice noodles, instant noodles, rice noodles, Shanghai noodles, shrimp noodles, silver needle noodles, Japanese buckwheat noodles, Spaghetti, Spinach Spaghetti, Dandan Noodles, Macaroni, Shanghai Rice Cake, Udon, Mongolian Noodles |
| Flour, starch, flour substitutes | Barley flour, corn flour, rye flour, glutinous rice flour, self-rising flour, cake flour, rice flour, dough, cassava flour, corn flour, flour, water chestnut flour |
| Breakfast cereals and other cereal products | Wheat bars, corn flakes, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, fruit cereals, wheat bran, McVie breakfast cereals, vegetarian (gluten-based), toasted bran, crispy wheat bars, crispy burritos, Mexican corn chips , Mitong |
| Fruits | Apples, loquats, pears, apricots, cherries, peach pears, peaches, plums, grapefruit, lemons, tartars, oranges, grapefruits, blackberries, bilberries, grapes, hawthorns, strawberries, star fruit, Persimmon, fig, guava, kumquat, olive, yellow peel, avocado, banana, durian, papaya, yinmin |
| Fruit products | Pomelo peel, olive wedge |
| Vegetables, including mushrooms, fungi and seaweed | Carrots, cabbage, kale, bean sprouts, bitter melon, zucchini, corn kernels, eggplant/dwarf melon, tomatoes, leeks, onions, bamboo shoots, broccoli, daylily, green beans , beans, fresh mushrooms |
| Vegetable products, including mushrooms, fungi and seaweed products | Preserved vegetables, pickled mustard, five willows, olives, Korean kimchi, pickles, winter vegetables, pickled cabbage, sour buckwheat, Japanese pickled radish, dried onions, pickles, plums Vegetables, tribute vegetables, taro shreds, Qingxin pills, vegetarian (made from konjac), nostoc, seaweed, snow fungus, fungus, Chinese cabbage, Agaricus blazei, bamboo fungus, elm fungus, hijiki, kelp, Hericium, oyster mushroom , tea tree mushroom, yellow ear mushroom, winter mushroom |
| Nuts and seeds | Macadamia nuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, chestnuts, cashews, almonds, coconuts, walnuts, pine nuts, peanuts, melon seeds, sesame, flax seeds, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, water chestnuts, kola nuts |
| Nut and seed products | Coconut milk, shredded coconut, coconut fruit, lotus paste, peanut butter, sesame paste |
| Beans | Red beans, black beans, broad beans, lentils, kidney beans, mung beans, soybeans |
| Soy products | Japanese tofu sticks, tofu puffs, southern milk, tempeh, dried tofu, bamboo shoots, baked beans with tomato sauce, fermented bean curd, vegetarian (made from soybeans), vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli, tofu, bean curd skin, yuba, red bean puree |
| Sashimi | Tuna sashimi, salmon sashimi, geoduck sashimi, scallop sashimi, sea urchin sashimi, beef sashimi |
| Sushi | Shrimp sushi, bean curd sushi, crab roe sushi, soft shell crab sushi, corn sushi, sweet egg sushi, California roll, tuna salad sushi, flower roll, vegetarian shark fin jellyfish sushi |
| Ready-to-eat oysters | Oysters (ready-to-eat) |
| Wild coral fish (live and unprocessed) | Cedar spotted, Tsing Yi, Sumei, red amber, Eastern star spotted |
| Other marine fish (live and unprocessed) | Big-eye chicken, sand anchovy, bull anchovy, tooth band, mud anchovy, salmon, sardine |
| Freshwater fish (live and unprocessed) | Catfish, carp, mandarin fish, catfish, raw fish, dace |
| Crustaceans, molluscs (live and unprocessed) | Shrimp, crab, lobster, abalone, snail, clam, geoduck, razor clam, scallop/scallop, mussel, oyster, cuttlefish, octopus fish, squid |
| Pufferfish (processed and unprocessed) | Dried fish marinated in chicken, sashimi/sushi with marinated chicken |
| Other edible aquatic products (live and unprocessed) | Starfish, sea urchin, Chinese horseshoe crab, frog |
| Dried seafood | Shark’s fin, fish maw, dried bonito, fish lips, jellyfish, dried starfish, shrimp roe, dried shrimp, oyster, scallops, salted fish, dried squid, dried abalone, sea cucumber |
| Other processed aquatic products | Caviar, fish floss, fish skin, fish dumplings, fish eggs, fish fillets, fish slips, fish meat, fish sticks, fish buckles, shrimp balls, crab roes, crab balls, crab sticks, Lobster balls, octopus balls, cuttlefish balls |
| Chilled, frozen and fresh game (unprocessed) | Snake, crocodile, venison |
| Chilled, frozen and fresh meat (unprocessed) | Beef, steak, beef ribs, beef offal, beef tendon, beef tongue, pork, pork trotter, pork chop, suckling pig, pork loin, pork tripe, mutton, lamb chop , sheep lungs, sheep heart |
| Refrigerated, frozen and fresh poultry (unprocessed) | Chicken, chicken wings, chicken feet, chicken liver, chicken blood, chicken, duck meat, duck legs, duck intestines, duck tongue, goose meat, goose wings, foie gras , turkey, turkey gizzards, ostrich |
| Processed game products | Crocodile jerky |
| Processed meat products | Barbecued pork, roasted pork, corned beef, luncheon meat, beef sausage, beef balls, red sausage, bacon, pork rinds, tribute balls, Jinhua ham, ham, sausage, bacon, mutton sausage, sausage |
| Processed poultry and livestock products | Foie gras, fried chicken nuggets, chicken sausage, turkey sausage, cured chicken, cured duck, cured duck legs, dried duck gizzards |
| Eggs | Eggs, brine eggs, tea eggs, egg whites, egg yolks |
| Duck eggs, goose eggs, quail eggs and other poultry eggs | Duck eggs, goose eggs, quail eggs, preserved eggs, salted duck eggs, duck albumen, duck egg yolks, goose albumen, goose egg yolk |
| Egg products | Egg powder, protein powder, refrigerated whole egg liquid |
| Milk and milk drinks | Buffalo milk, goat milk, unprocessed milk, frozen milk, skimmed milk, semi-skimmed milk, milk with added nutrients, flavored milk, flavored milk drinks, milk drinks with added nutrients, Reconstituted milk |
| Cream, cheese, butter | Clotted cream, thick cream, half cream, sour cream, sterilized cream, whipped cream, cheddar cheese, daal, cream cheese, monsari cheese , Parmesan cheese, butter |
| Condensed milk, evaporated milk, non-dairy milk products | Condensed milk, evaporated milk, non-dairy creamer, non-dairy condensed milk, non-dairy evaporated milk |
| Milk powder | Milk powder for pregnant women, milk powder (with added nutrients), whole milk powder, partially skimmed milk powder, skimmed milk powder |
| Other dairy products | Buttermilk, fermented drinks (dairy base), cheese (except frozen cheese), milkshakes |
| Ice cream, ice cream bars, frozen yoghurt and others | Ice cream (including ice cream batches and ice cream cakes), ice cream bars, frozen yoghurt, new places, sorbet |
| Animal fats and oils, vegetable fats and oils, other fats or fats and oils | Beef tallow, lard, mutton fat, poultry fat, vegetable tallow, corn oil, palm oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, peanut oil, rapeseed Oil, canola oil, tea seed oil, camellia oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, soybean oil, walnut oil, shortening, safflower oil, tempura oil, synthetic oil |
| Salad Dressing | Thousand Island Salad Dressing, Mayonnaise, Caesar Salad Dressing |
| Soda and other carbonated drinks | Coke soda, diet soda, lemon-lime, beer, ginger beer, tonic water |
| Fresh fruit and vegetable juices, fruit and vegetable juice drinks | Freshly squeezed apple juice, freshly squeezed tomato juice, freshly squeezed sugarcane juice, aloe vera juice drinks, fruit punch drinks, prune juice drinks, lime water |
| Coffee beans, tea leaves, granule drinks | Longjing tea, Narcissus tea, Tieguanyin tea, tea leaves and tea bags, granule drinks, ginseng tea powder, almond cream, cereal drinks, coffee granules, coffee beans |
| Bottled water and edible ice | Edible ice pellets, bottled distilled water, bottled mineral water, bottled drinking water |
| Other non-alcoholic beverages | Coffee, decaf coffee, soy milk, chocolate drinks, coconut milk, fruit vinegar drinks, lemon honey, fermented drinks (non-dairy based), honey water, mandarin duck, energy drinks, sports drinks, ginseng tea, Chinese tea, sirloin black tea, tea-flavored drinks, lemon tea, milk tea, twenty-four flavors, Luo Han Guo drinks, hemp seeds, Prunella vulgaris herbal tea, sour plum soup, bamboo cane and grass root water, beef juice drinks, bird’s nest drinks, chicken essence drinks |
| Beer and ale | Beer and ale |
| Other alcoholic beverages | Champagne, red wine, white wine, wine, mirin, sorghum wine, rice wine, rice wine, spirits, plum wine, eggnog |
| Sugar, icing, food toppings, dessert sauces | Sugar, rock sugar, granulated sugar/white sugar, brown sugar/brown sugar, chocolate sauce, icing |
| Sweeteners | Asparagine, saccharin, neotame |
| Honey, molasses, syrup | Chocolate syrup, maltose syrup, maple syrup, honey, molasses, syrup |
| Jams and jelly | Strawberry jam, apricot jam, peach jam, jelly with konjac, jelly without konjac |
| Candy, chocolate, chewing gum | Marshmallows, nut chocolate, black chocolate, milk chocolate, sugar-free candy, hard candies, jelly beans, peanut brittle, sesame candy, chewing gum |
| Desserts, Chinese pastries | Rice dumplings, Mala Cake/Mala Zhan, beef balls, shrimp dumplings, glutinous rice chicken, spring rolls, fried wontons, barbecued pork rice rolls, fried rice rolls, taro cakes, water chestnut cakes, chicken buns , barbecued pork buns, sugar cakes, steamed buns, fried dough sticks, golden rice cakes, ham/saqima, egg bristle, beef jerky, fried horns |
| Mixed food | Side dishes, rice, rice balls, rice balls, eight-treasure porridge, porridge, noodles, pizza, soup/wings/soup, concentrated soup/top soup/broth/soup base, ginger vinegar, soup packets, canned soup , salad, fresh fruit salad, Caesar salad, potato salad, shrimp salad, vegetable salad, corn salad, chicken salad, sandwich, hamburger, fish fillet bun, hot dog, pork fillet and egg burger, cheeseburger , Pork Chop Bun |
| Desserts, baked goods | Stewed eggs, tofu curd, jelly, soup balls, bean paste pot cake, Indonesian layer cake, purple rice cake, coconut milk bean cake, glutinous rice cake, almond milk, sago milk, Italian cheese cake , cocktail buns, garlic buns, pineapple buns, biscuits, malt cakes, wafers, cakes, cookies, batches, winter dumplings, waffles, scones, moon cakes, egg tarts, puffs, Swiss rolls, pancakes Halberd |
| Snacks (puffer fish products) | Dried fish soaked in chicken (ready to eat) |
| Snacks (other) | Fish and cheese sausage, cheese rings, popcorn, shrimp crackers, crispy roasted corn snacks, hydrangeas, hawthorn cakes, dried tangerine peel, macadamia nuts (ready to eat), pistachios (ready to eat), hazelnuts ( ready to eat), walnuts (ready to eat), pine nuts (ready to eat), peanuts (ready to eat), melon seeds (ready to eat), potato chips, snacks seaweed, pork floss, pork jerky, beef jerky, dried fish, squid snacks |
| Vinegar, gravy, sauces, including soy sauce, oyster sauce | Vinegar, gravy, soy sauce, siu mei/braised sauce, oyster sauce, bean paste, Zhuhou sauce, fermented soybean paste, hollandaise chutney, XO sauce, Italian Pasta sauce, chili sauce, chipotle sauce, sweet sauce, fish sauce, yellow mustard, sesame oil, chili sauce, pickle juice, tomato juice, Japanese teriyaki sauce, ginger juice |
| Salt, condiments | Low sodium salt, salt substitute, table salt, seven-spice powder, instant soup noodle seasoning powder, minced ginger and green onion, chicken powder, MSG, minced garlic |
| Herbs and spices | Nine-story pagoda, mint, lemongrass, stinkgrass, curry leaves/powder, dill, perilla, sand ginger powder, yellow hair seeds, capers, cinnamon, allspice, garlic powder, licorice, star anise, chili powder, ginger powder, pepper powder, sweet paprika powder, Sichuan peppercorns, nutmeg |
| Chinese herbal medicine | Cloves, Amomum villosum, Torreya, Huaishan, chrysanthemum, tangerine peel (TCM), Gorgon fruit, safflower, fennel seeds, galangal, Luo Han Guo, honeysuckle, Polygonatum odoratum, Laifuzi, Angelica dahurica, Tianqi, Ganoderma lucidum, sea buckthorn , Bawang flower, Poria cocos, apricot, ginkgo, lotus seeds |
| Chinese herbal products | Guiling paste, Chuanbei loquat paste |
| Infant/toddler/growth formula powder (for infants and young children 36 months or below) | |
| Other baby food | Baby food, baby fruit/vegetable juice |
| Miscellaneous | Baking powder, food coloring, baking powder, yeast |