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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Customs and Excise Department in a joint operation this morning (September 5) seized about 200 kilogrammes of pork suspected to be of dubious origin.
Officers intercepted a private car at Lok Ma Chau Control Point about 9am and found the pork inside eight plastic bags on board without health certificates. Two men are assisting investigations.
An FEHD spokesman said that under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, it was an offence to bring into Hong Kong any meat and poultry without an official certificate. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
He said the department would continue to closely monitor the illegal importation of meat and take stringent enforcement action to safeguard food safety and public health.
"Anyone who has suspicion about illegal meat importation activities should call the department's hotline at 2868 0000," he said.
Ends/Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:44
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