First Bag used for food hygiene reasons in each transaction
(i) Foodstuff items without packaging
In order to protect the foodstuff items from exposing to the outside environment and minimise the risk of potential leakage or spillage, PSBs to be provided carrying foodstuff items without packaging are exempted from charging. 1 free PSB could be provided per single transaction.
Examples
(ii) Foodstuff items not wholly contained in any packaging
In order to protect the foodstuff items from exposing to the outside environment and minimise the risk of potential leakage or spillage, PSBs to be provided carrying foodstuff items not wholly contained* in any packaging are exempted from charging. 1 free PSB could be provided per single transaction.
*"wholly contained" means the foodstuff item is wholly wrapped or enclosed in, or covered by, any packaging, irrespective of whether there is any hole on the packaging or whether the opening of the packaging is sealed or folded.
Examples:
(iii) F&B takeaway foodstuff items in non-airtight packaging
Currently, most food and beverage (“F&B”) takeaway items are contained in non-airtight packaging. Unlike general foodstuff items that are wholly contained in non-airtight packaging, there is a practical need to provide PSBs to customers for carrying F&B takeaway items, in particular when more than one item (e.g. one lunchbox plus one drink) is purchased. It is also necessary to provide PSBs to a person delivering a large quantity of F&B takeaway items. Therefore, PSBs to be provided carrying F&B takeaway items in non-airtight packaging are exempted from charging. 1 free PSB could be provided per single transaction.
F&B takeaway foodstuff items in non-airtight packaging
✓ the item is ready for immediate consumption
✓ the item is prepared at the place where the item is sold
✓ the item is intended (by the seller), at the time of its sale, to be consumed outside the place where the item is sold
✓ the item is not contained in airtight packaging.
Examples:
* Special scenarios
In consideration of the needs, two or more free PSB(s) may only be provided under the following scenarios:
- if not providing any one of such PSB(s) would make carrying all the foodstuff items in other such PSB(s) impractical owing to:
- other such PSB(s) is too small or lacks sufficient volume capacity
- the risk that any of the other such PSB(s) break(s)
- if not providing any one of such PSB(s) would prejudice the quality of the foodstuff items originally contained in such PSB(s) (for example, while fresh crab and fish can be contained in the same PSB, from merchandise quality angle, it is undesirable for them to be put together in the same PSB).