Chain retailer convicted of supplying and possessing nutritional supplement candy with false trade description
​A chain retailer was convicted and fined $35,000 today (August 28) at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts for supplying and being in possession of nutritional supplement candy to which a false trade description had been applied for the purpose of trade, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). A total of 30 cans of candy involved in the case were also confiscated.
Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a type of nutritional supplement candy with suspected false descriptions of ingredients, which was claimed to contain 20 milligrams of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per 100 grams, was being supplied in the market.
Customs officers test-purchased that type of candy from a branch located in San Po Kong of a chain retailer. Test results by the Government Laboratory confirmed that the amount of DHA contained in the candy was only 2.3mg per 100g, falling short of its claim by more than 88 per cent.
After noting the test results, Customs officers took immediate action and seized 30 cans of the type of candy with a total value of $7,140 from six branches of the chain retailer concerned.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. The department will continue to crack down on the supply of goods with false trade descriptions to protect consumers' interests.
Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).