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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 20) reminded fresh provision shop and market stall operators not to sell any meat other than the permitted categories.
Acting on information, FEHD officers this afternoon raided two fresh provision shops suspected of selling mutton without permission at Nos. 40 shop B and 46 Wan Chai Road respectively. About 90 kilogrammes of chilled mutton was seized and two men are assisting investigations.
"The shops, one with permission to sell fresh beef and the other permitted to sell fresh pork, live poultry, fresh poultry carcass and chilled chicken were allegedly in possession of chilled mutton for sale. This could involve a breach of the Food Business Regulation. The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment," an FEHD spokesman said.
He said the department would continue to closely monitor the sale of meat at retail level and take enforcement action to safeguard food safety and public health.
"Anyone who has doubts about meat being sold at retail outlets should call the department's hotline at 2868 0000," he said.
Ends/Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:39
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