Introduction
Sweeteners are food additives that are used to impart a sweet taste to food in place of sugars. Like other food additives, sweeteners are permitted for use only after stringent safety evaluations that demonstrate they are fit for consumption. The Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Cap. 132U) (the Regulations) stipulate that except permitted sweeteners, no person shall sell, consign, deliver or import any food containing sweeteners.
The Government has reviewed the Regulations and launched a three-month public consultation on the proposed amendments on 4 September 2026, until 4 December 2026.
Major proposed amendments
When reviewing the Regulations and formulating the proposed amendments, the Government took into account standards established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and standards of the Mainland, dietary habits and intake of local population, as well as the practices of other major food trading partners of Hong Kong.
The proposed amendments mainly include bringing polyhydric alcohols under the regulatory scope, expanding the list of permitted sweeteners and setting maximum permitted levels for different “sweetener-food” pairs, as well as making technical amendments, with a view to better protecting public health and harmonising with international standards.
Public consultation (4 September – 4 December 2026))
Please send your views by e-mail, facsimile or letter to the CFS within the consultation period. Details are as follows –
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
43/F, Queensway Government Offices,
66 Queensway, Hong Kong
Facsimile: (852) 2893 3547
E-mail address: sweetener_consultation@fehd.gov.hk
Consultation Forums
Two consultation forums will be arranged as follows:-
| Date: | 23 September 2026 (Wednesday) | 23 October 2026 (Friday) |
| Time: | 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm | 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm |
| Format: | Physical meeting | Zoom Cloud Meeting |
| Venue: |
Conference Room, |
- |
| Registration deadline: | 17 September 2026 | 16 October 2026 |
If you wish to attend the consultation forums, please complete and return the attached enrollment form to Communication Resource Unit of the Centre for Food Safety by fax at 2787 3638 or email to communication_resource_assistant@fehd.gov.hk on or before the registration deadline. Please call the Communication Resource Unit of the Centre for Food Safety at 2381 6096 during office hours for any enquiries on the consultation forums.
Typhoon and Adverse Weather Arrangement
- If the Hong Kong Observatory still holds Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or “extreme conditions” 4 hours before the start of the forum, the forum will be cancelled.
- If Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or “extreme conditions” is issued (or will be issued) 2 hours before the forum starts, the forum will also be cancelled.
- If the Hong Kong Observatory issues a forecast or hoists Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above during the forum, the forum will be cancelled immediately.
- If the black rainstorm warning signal is hoisted by the Hong Kong Observatory during the forum, the forum will continue.