FEHD raids fresh provision shops for selling chilled meat as fresh meat
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     In a blitz operation today (December 31), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) raided four fresh provision shops (FPSs) in Ho Pui Street, Chuen Lung Street and San Tsuen Street in Tsuen Wan for suspected selling of chilled meat as fresh meat.

     During the operation, FEHD officers marked and sealed about 90 kilograms of suspected chilled pork in one of the FPSs for further investigation. The investigation against the licensee of that FPS for suspected violation of the Food Business Regulation is still ongoing. Prosecution will be taken out if sufficient evidence is collected. In addition, FEHD officers have issued verbal warnings to three FPSs for non-compliance of relevant licensing conditions and initiated prosecution against the proprietor of a shop for operating a food business without a valid FPS licence.

     A spokesman for FEHD said, "Anyone selling chilled meat without permission is committing an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment on conviction. The department will continue to closely monitor the sale of fresh meat at the retail level and take stringent enforcement action to safeguard food safety and public health. Moreover, the sale of chilled meat as fresh meat is a breach of licensing condition, and the department will consider cancellation of the relevant FPS licence if sufficient evidence is collected."

Ends/Thursday, December 31, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:20

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