CFS follows up on illegal import of tinned milk powder from Japan

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 12) that a consignment of 16 tins of milk powder from Tochigi Prefecture, Japan was illegally imported into Hong Kong, breaching the relevant import ban order. None of the products concerned have entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: アイクレオ�フォローアップミルク
Product brand: Glico
Place of origin: Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Packing: 820 grams per tin
Expiry date: August 27, 2019

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS inspected a consignment of tinned milk powder (16 tins in total) imported from Japan and found that they were from Tochigi Prefecture, which is under an import ban, instead of Hyogo Prefecture as shown on the packing list. Milk powder from Tochigi Prefecture is currently prohibited to be imported into Hong Kong. The CFS’ investigation confirmed that the products concerned have not entered the market and they are marked and sealed by the CFS. The Centre has taken samples of the products concerned for testing of radiation levels and no radiation has been detected.

     "Importers will have to wait till the CFS has conducted radiation tests on every consignment of products imported from Japan before selling them. The aforementioned illegal import was detected by the CFS during its inspection. The products concerned have not entered the market. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the CFS' gate-keeping work."

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. Investigation is ongoing.