Customs seizes counterfeit soy sauce (with photos)

Hong Kong Customs officers yesterday (February 4) cracked four wholesalers selling suspected counterfeit soy sauce in an operation, resulting in the seizure of 250 tins of suspected counterfeit soy sauce, worth over $60,000, and the arrest of 5 people.

With the assistance of the trademark owner concerned, Customs officers raided four wholesaler companies in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Yuen Long and Sai Ying Pun, and seized 250 tins of suspected counterfeit soy sauce with the packing similar to the genuine one but a lower selling price.

Preliminary testing by Government Laboratory showed that no body harm substance was found in the seized samples.

In the operation, four men and a woman, aged 34 to 60, including company owners and merchandising managers were arrested. They are on bail pending further investigations.

Any person who contravenes the Trade Descriptions Ordinance is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and an imprisonment for five years.

If members of the public and retailers come across any suspected trade mark infringement activities, please call the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.

Ends/Thursday, February 5, 2009

The 'KIKKOman' trademark of the counterfeit soya sauce is shown in the lower center part of four sides of the tins while the genuine product applies its trademark in the lower center part of three sides with the remaining side featuring the trademark in the lower right part.

The Japanese wording on the tin cover of the counterfeit product is up side down, and the expiry date is printed on the top. For the genuine product, the expiry date is printed on the side of the tins.