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

     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 has raided licensed fresh provision shops (FPSs) in Eastern District and Tuen Mun District suspected of selling chilled meat or frozen meat as fresh meat today (December 17) with Hong Kong Customs.

     During the operation, FEHD officers raided one licensed FPS in Chun Yeung Street, North Point, and one licensed FPS in Tsing Ho Square, Tuen Mun, and marked and sealed about 1 300 kilograms of suspected chilled meat and frozen meat for further investigation. Pork samples were also collected for testing for preservatives. Prosecution will be taken out if sufficient evidence is collected. The licensees of the two FPSs are 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 on the cancellation of the FPSs' licences.

     FEHD officers also took out four prosecutions in total against the operator of the FPS in Tuen Mun for dirtiness at the premises and sale of mutton and chilled fish without permission, and against the operators of both FPSs in Tuen Mun and North Point for illegal shopfront extension. In addition, the FPS in Tuen Mun was found to be unable to provide delivery notes for inspection and the notice showing the approved type of meat for sale was not displayed in the FPS in North Point. Verbal warnings were issued to the FPS operators for non-compliance with the relevant licensing condition.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "Selling of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat breaches the licensing condition and causes food safety problems. Operation by these profiteers also poses unfairness to other shops that comply with the requirements."

     A spokesman for the FEHD 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 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 fresh provision shops breaching the licensing conditions may be cancelled, while the tenancies of market meat stalls breaching the 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 action against the violations.