FEHD strives to crack down on sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat (with photo)

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has all along been committed to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat, and raided a licensed fresh provision shop (FPS) in Yuen Long District suspected of selling chilled or frozen meat as fresh meat, in an operation today (August 4).

     During the operation, FEHD officers raided a licensed FPS on Mau Tan Street, Yuen Long, and destroyed around 723 kilograms of suspected chilled or frozen meat. Pork samples were 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 or frozen meat as fresh meat, and the FEHD is proceeding with the cancellation of the FPS's licence.

     FEHD officers also initiated prosecution against the licensee of the FPS for dirtiness at the premises. In addition, verbal warnings were issued to the licensee of the FPS for non-compliance with relevant licensing conditions for failing to provide delivery notes for inspection and failing to display a notice with specified dimensions at a conspicuous location facing customers at the entrance of the premises so as to indicate clearly the product types being sold at the premises.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "Selling of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat breaches the licensing conditions and causes food safety problems. Also, the operation of these profiteers is unfair to other shops that comply with the requirements."

     The spokesman added, "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 vigorously 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 actions as necessary. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecutions will be initiated and follow-up action will be taken against a breach of licensing conditions or tenancy agreements. The licences of FPSs breaching licensing conditions may be cancelled, while the tenancies of market meat stalls breaching tenancy agreements may be terminated."

     The spokesman stressed that the FEHD is very concerned and has been committed to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat by taking stringent enforcement actions against the violations.