Legal proceedings have been completed against the operators of 5 shops for selling fake dried crocodile meat.
This followed the disclosure by the Consumer Council in November last year that many of the dried crocodile meat on sale in the market were not genuine or unadulterated - but largely of monitor lizard or snake dried meat.
In consequence, charges were brought by the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) against the owners or employees of the 5 shops concerned under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.
Between April and July 2008, the offenders were fined by the Court an amount ranging from $1,000 to $30,000.
Legal proceedings against 2 other shops are still pending.
Consumers are advised to purchase dried crocodile meat from shops of good reputation and check whether the sellers have a valid licence. Should they suspect a shop of making false description of the product, they are urged to report the matter to the C&ED's hotline 2545 6182.
The Consumer Council reserves all its right (including copyright) in respect of CHOICE Magazine and Online CHOICE ( https://echoice.consumer.org.hk/ ).