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 (FPS) in Sha Tin and Kwai Tsing Districts suspected of selling frozen meat as fresh meat today (September 30).

     During the operation in Sha Tin District, FEHD officers raided a licensed FPS in Glamour Garden, Tai Wai and marked and sealed over 1 300 kilograms of suspected fresh 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. FEHD officers also initiated two prosecutions against the operator of the FPS for dirtiness at the premises and meat carcasses placed on floor without any means of protection against risk of contamination. In addition, the FPS was found to be unable to provide delivery notes for inspection, verbal warning was issued to the operator of the FPS for non-compliance with relevant licensing condition.

     During the operation in Kwai Tsing District, FEHD officers raided a licensed FPS in Shek Lei Shopping Centre, Kwai Chung and disposed of about 151kg of suspected frozen meat failing to provide invoice for inspection. A beef 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 frozen meat as fresh meat, and the FEHD is proceeding on the cancellation of the FPSs' licence.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "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 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 actions against the violations.