22nd September 2023 – (Hong Kong) The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has announced that a consignment of food imported from Japan was found to contain chestnut products from a regulated prefecture, raising concerns about a potential breach of the relevant Food Safety Order. The CFS has promptly marked and sealed the affected product, ensuring it does not enter the market. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
During a routine inspection of a food label, the CFS discovered a pack of chestnuts from Ibaraki Prefecture within the consignment. However, the product was not accompanied by the required radiation certificate and exporter certificate, which is in violation of the relevant Order.
According to the Order, the importation of vegetables, fruit, milk, milk beverages, and dried milk from Fukushima is strictly prohibited in Hong Kong. However, foods originating from Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Gunma prefectures are allowed to be imported under the condition that they are accompanied by a radiation certificate and an exporter certificate issued by the Japanese authority. These certificates confirm that the radiation levels are within the guideline limits and that the products are safe for human consumption.
The CFS is actively investigating the incident and will take appropriate action, including notifying the relevant Japanese authorities about the incident. If sufficient evidence is found, the importer responsible may face prosecution. The CFS is committed to ensuring that food safety regulations are upheld and will continue to monitor the situation closely.