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The Government has stepped up surveillance on seafood products around the Lunar New Year period in view of the possibility that some traders might import seafood from improper channels to meet the increased demand amid the economic upturn.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recently collected 16 freshwater fish samples from the Cheung Sha Wan and Western Wholesale Food Markets for tests for malachite green, nitrofurans and chloramphenicol. Results of 15 samples were all satisfactory but one mud carp sample was found to contain a trace amount of malachite green (0.21 ppm), a spokesman for the Centre said today (February 26).
"The Centre has notified the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (GDCIQ) of the test results and the situation. The GDCIQ will take follow-up actions, including investigating whether fish load from non-registered farms had been mixed with those from registered farms.
"The Centre and the Customs & Excise Department (C&ED) will closely monitor the situation and continue to intercept Mainland fishing boats importing freshwater fish from improper channels," the spokesman said.
GDCIQ and the CFS would make every effort to combat illegal activities. The Hong Kong Customs officers successfully intercepted a Mainland vessel yesterday and seized 4,200 kilogrammes of unmanifested freshwater fish which did not bear valid health certificates. The C&ED had taken out prosecution against the owner and crew member concerned for breaching the Import and Export Ordinance.
They would be liable, on conviction, to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
"CFS officials will meet with the Guangdong authorities later this week to discuss measures to step up regulating of Mainland freshwater fish supplied to Hong Kong," the spokesman said.
Ends/Monday, February 26, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:15
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