The FEHD is the authority responsible for licensing food businesses and issuing permits for the sale of restricted foods including Chinese herb tea, milk, frozen confections, sushi and sashimi. It also issues licences to places of public entertainment such as theatres, cinemas and entertainment machine centres. In addition, it issues trade licences for private swimming pools, commercial bathhouses and offensive trades such as the tanning of hides and the processing of sharks' fins. The FEHD also provides support for the Liquor Licensing Board, an independent statutory body that issues liquor licences. The Chief Executive appoints the board members who meet about four times a month to consider licence applications.

During the year, the department received and processed 2 808 applications for food business licences, 901 for restricted food permits, 901 for places of public entertainment licences, 34 for other trade licences, 844 for liquor licences and club liquor licences, and 31 for karaoke establishment permits in premises with a restaurant licence.

In line with the Government's policy of facilitating business operations in Hong Kong, the department implements measures to streamline licensing procedures to shorten the processing time for licences.

The FEHD executed two closure orders against food premises during the year because of incidents of food poisoning.