CFS finds milk imported without import permission

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 22) announced that the Centre has found at the import level a batch of milk imported from Hokkaido, Japan without import permission given by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (DFEH). The CFS calls on the public not to consume the product concerned. The trade should also stop selling or using the affected product should they possess it.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: (No name in English available)
Brand: (No name in English available)
Place of origin: Hokkaido, Japan
Importer: Temptation Taste Confectionery Ltd.
Net volume: 1 litre/200 millilitre per carton
Use-by date: June 24, 2017/June 23, 2017

A spokesman for the CFS said, "During CFS' inspection of the product concerned, it was found that no import permission of the DFEH has been obtained for import of the affected product. According to information provided by the importer, import volumes of the two packing sizes (1 litre and 200 millilitre) are respectively 420 and 840 cartons. The CFS immediately instructed the importer concerned not to sell the affected product. However, CFS' follow up investigation found that the importer concerned had distributed some of the product concerned to its retail outlets for sale. The CFS has already instructed the importer concerned to stop sale, remove from shelves, and initiate a recall of the product in question. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 3543 0361 during office hours. The remaining stocks including 190 cartons (1 litre) and 51 cartons (200 millilitres) of the affected product have been marked and sealed by the CFS. The Centre is also tracing the source and distribution of the affected product. Inspections by the CFS on the retail outlets concerned confirmed that the product concerned was no longer on sale."

According to the Milk Regulation (Cap. 132AQ), any person who sells any milk or milk beverage imported into Hong Kong from a source of manufacture other than a source of manufacture which has been approved by DFEH shall commit an offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months upon conviction.

Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned. The CFS will also alert the trade to the incident and remind importers of milk that they should comply with the requirements under the Milk Regulation. It will continue to follow up and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Monday, May 22, 2017