Checks on imported food to be tightened
The food-hygiene watchdog has promised to tighten inspections following reports that importers have been sneaking uncertified mainland chicken carcasses into Hong Kong hidden among vegetables.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said it would tighten monitoring of food imports, distribution and sales after TVB reported yesterday it had become common practice among importers to put chickens in boxes of vegetables and send them to the city undetected.
To strengthen inspection, the department was constructing a food inspection station at its food control office near the Man Kam To border checkpoint.
The watchdog said it had inspected 23 per cent of the vehicles entering the city carrying vegetables from January to November. But it had only one report of a vehicle carrying vegetables being used to illegally import pork or fresh poultry at Man Kam To during that period.
The department also said it had been communicating with vegetable traders about illegal imports of foodstuffs from unidentified origins. The last meeting was on November 27.
Vegetable importers must be licensed by the department and the mainland's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the watchdog said. In addition, each batch of vegetables must have certification.
If inspectors found illegal activity, faulty documentation or substandard vegetables, the transporter would be put on a blacklist and the relevant mainland authorities would be notified.
The TVB report said importers put the chickens in the boxes and identify the designated distributor in Hong Kong. On arrival, the distributor sells the poultry.
