Dried seafood retailer convicted of supplying and possessing for sale dried seafood with false trade descriptions

Date: 05/03/2019

A dried seafood retailer was fined $15,000 today (March 5) at Eastern Magistrates' Courts for supplying and possessing for sale dried seafood with a false trade description applied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

Hong Kong Customs earlier conducted a test-buy operation and bought a type of dried seafood labelled as dried abalone slices at a dried seafood retailer in Wan Chai. Upon examination by the Government Laboratory, it was confirmed as conch meat.

Customs officers then conducted an operation and seized a total of six kilograms of sliced conch meat with the false label "dried abalone slices".

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 Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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