Nearly 1400 illegal importation of restricted food cases busted at borders: Customs

Customs and the Center for Food Safety (CFS) have collaborated to combat the illegal importation or smuggling of regulated food, with approximately 1,400 cases recorded so far this year, a significant increase from last year's 1,019 cases.

Raw meats (817 cases) and uncertified eggs (374 cases) were the most commonly seized food goods, exceeding the previous year's figures of 467 and 118, respectively. Poultry products contribute to the remaining seized items.

It is reported that 1,324 people were arrested at the land border checkpoints in the first eight months this year for importing restricted food items, showing a 30 percent rise from the previous year.

Jacqueline Lee Lai-yee, the deputy head of the Customs and Excise Department's land boundary command, revealed that half of the offenders are retirees or homemakers, while 77 percent are Hong Kong residents, indicating a lack of public awareness of the law.

Lee underlined that Customs will strengthen enforcement measures during the National Day Golden Week, including the distribution of informational pamphlets at various ports.

The CFS warned that improper storage of regulated foods can lead to food safety problems and increase health risk and urged the public not to import such items from mainland or foreign sources for the sake of convenience.