​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 11) that vegetables from a regulated Japanese prefecture were suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The products concerned have been marked and sealed by the CFS and have not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the cases.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "During inspections of the concerned consignments of food imported from Japan, the CFS found a pack of peppermint and five packs of perilla leaves from Ibaraki Prefecture which were not accompanied with radiation certificates and exporter certificates after the Order was issued. The importers concerned are thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order."
According to the Order, all vegetables, fruits, milk, milk beverages and dried milk originating from Fukushima are banned from being imported into Hong Kong, while such foods originating from Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba and Gunma prefectures are allowed to be imported on the condition that they are accompanied with a radiation certificate and an exporter certificate issued by the Japanese authority certifying that the radiation levels do not exceed the guideline levels and are fit for human consumption.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incidents. Prosecution will be instituted against the importers concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing.
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