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 raided licensed fresh provision shops (FPSs) in Tai Po District and Tsuen Wan District suspected of selling chilled meat or frozen meat as fresh meat today (March 8).

     During the operation, FEHD officers raided two licensed FPSs in Tai Wing Lane, Tai Po, and Chuen Lung Street, Tsuen Wan, and marked and sealed a total of over 520 kilograms of suspected chilled meat and frozen meat for further investigation. A pork sample was also collected for testing for preservatives and 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 with the cancellation of the FPSs' licences. FEHD officers also initiated prosecution against the operator of one of the FPSs for dirty equipment.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "The selling of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat breaches the licensing condition 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 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 FPSs 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 about 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.