Dishonest Traders Sold Cattle Tendons for Deer Tendons - CHOICE #425

The latest issue of CHOICE reported on cases of conviction in the first two months of this year for selling dried cattle tendons for dried deer tendons. The seafood retail shops and wholesaler involved in having possession and selling of fake dried deer tendons were fined a total sum of HK$ 338,500. The goods concerned were confiscated by order of the court.

The Consumer Council joined hands with the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) to publish the names of shops involved in the selling of fake deer tendons. C&ED pointed out that there were considerable demands for dried deer tendons in the market, plus the limited supply, the price of genuine dried deer tendons was much higher than that of dried cattle tendons. Hence, some dishonest traders deceive consumers by passing off cattle tendons as deer tendons for profiteering.

In a series of raids carried out on 28 dried seafood shops throughout Hong Kong in last September, the C&ED had seized 187 catties of suspected fake dried deer tendons worth about HK$ 41,200.

Names of the shops involved in cases of selling fake deer tendons convicted up to 7 March of 2012 are as follows:

* Unnamed retail shop

Meanwhile, the Council released information regarding 3 cases of conviction in December last year for selling counterfeit drugs. Among the shops, 2 were in Hong Kong Island and 1 in Kowloon.

Last year, a total of 21 shops were involved in convictions related to selling counterfeit drugs.

Particulars of shops involved in conviction for selling counterfeit drugs (convicted in December 2011) are as follows:

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, it is a serious offence to possess, sell or supply goods with false trade description. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for 5 years.

The Consumer Council reserves all its right (including copyright) in respect of CHOICE magazine and Online CHOICE ( https://echoice.consumer.org.hk/ ).