FEHD strives to crack down on sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat (with photo)
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During the operation, FEHD officers raided a licensed FPS in Po Heung Street, marked and sealed about 1 170 kilograms of suspected chilled meat and frozen meat for further investigation. A pork sample was also collected for testing for preservatives and prosecution will be taken out if sufficient evidence is collected. The licensee of the FPS is suspected of breaching the licensing condition for the display and sale of chilled meat or frozen meat as fresh meat, and the FEHD is proceeding with the cancellation of the FPS's licence. FEHD officers also initiated a prosecution against the operator of the FPS for sale of frozen mutton and chilled poultry without permission.
An FEHD spokesman said, "Selling of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat breaches the licensing condition and causes food safety problems. The operation of these profiteers also is unfair to other shops that comply with the requirements.
"Anyone selling chilled meat or frozen meat without permission commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment on conviction. The department will continue to conduct regular inspections at licensed FPSs and market meat stalls, and will actively handle the complaints received. In detecting any irregularities, the FEHD will carry out immediate investigations and take appropriate enforcement action. In addition, the FEHD also proactively investigates suspected violations from time to time and conducts surprise inspections and enforcement action as necessary. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecutions will be initiated and follow-up action will be taken on the breach of licensing conditions or tenancy agreements. The licences of FPSs breaching the licensing conditions may be cancelled, while the tenancies of market meat stalls breaching the tenancy agreements may be terminated," the spokesman added.
The spokesman stressed that the FEHD is very concerned about and has been committed to combatting the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat by taking stringent enforcement action against the violations.
Ends/Friday, January 28, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:20
Issued at HKT 16:20
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