A supermarket proprietor was convicted and fined $8,000 today (July 17) at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for supplying and having in possession frozen fish fillets with false trade descriptions for sale in the course of trade, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Acting on information, Customs officers conducted a test-buy operation at the supermarket and bought two packs of frozen fish fillets marked as "grouper fish meat" and "sole fish fillet" respectively on the packing.
Laboratory examinations confirmed that the items purchased were catfish fillets.
Seventeen packs of declared "grouper fish meat" and 29 packs of declared "sole fish fillet" were further seized from the supermarket. Laboratory examinations confirmed that they were also catfish fillets.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.
Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Monday, July 17, 2017