Tag Archives: China

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Dried Chinese white cabbage sample detected with excessive preservative

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 5) that a sample of loose-packed dried Chinese white cabbage was found to contain a preservative, sulphur dioxide, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the case.
      
     “The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a stall in Electric Road Market, North Point, for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 1 660 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 500 ppm,” a CFS spokesman said.
      
     The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and has requested it to stop sale of the affected batch of the product. The Centre is tracing the source of the product concerned.
      
     Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. This preservative is of low toxicity. As it is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headache and nausea after consumption.
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     The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.
      
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing. read more

East Asia

Company’s directors and manager fined $216,000 for contravening the Employment Ordinance

     Two directors and a manager of Bo Wing Construction Engineering Company Limited were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) with respect to six employees, in violation of the Employment Ordinance (EO). The three defendants pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (September 5) and were fined a total of $216,000. The defendants were also ordered to pay an outstanding sum totalling about $150,000 via the court to the six employees.

     The above company failed to pay the six employees’ wages totalling about $150,000 within seven days after the termination of employment as required by the EO. The company also failed to pay the employees the same awarded sum within 14 days after the date set out by the terms of the LT award in accordance with the EO. The directors and manager concerned were convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences. 

     “The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay employees’ wages within the time limit in accordance with the EO and awarded sums according to the terms of the awards issued by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board,” a spokesman for the LD said.

     “The LD will not tolerate these offences and will continue to make dedicated efforts in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights,” the spokesman added.
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East Asia