[2] The CFS was created in May 2006 under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Environment and Ecology Bureau.

Plans to form a separate agency to specifically tackle food safety were proposed in 2005, following multiple food safety incidents including an outbreak of Streptococcus suis and freshwater fish contaminated with malachite green.

[3][4] At its initial conception, the centre was expected to take a similar structure as the Centre for Health Protection, and bring together experts from various fields to tackle food safety issues.

[3] A proposal for the centre was rejected by the Legislative Council on 18 January 2006, citing concerns of marginalising veterinarians and lacking clarity.

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