The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 6) that a sample of rabbitfish was found to contain a veterinary drug, chloramphenicol. The CFS is following up on the case.

     "The CFS collected the rabbitfish sample from a market stall in Tai Kok Tsui for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained chloramphenicol at a level of 1.1 parts per billion," the spokesman said.

     According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap 132AF), no food sold in Hong Kong is allowed to contain chloramphenicol. Offenders will be prosecuted and will be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

     The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling the affected batch of the product. The CFS will continue to follow up on the case, including tracing the source and distribution of the affected product to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:05

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