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Hong Kong company probed after 'claiming animal feed oil was edible'
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 10 September, 2014, 5:18pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 11 September, 2014, 3:24am
Emily Tsang, Timmy Sung and Lawrence Chung in Taipei
The Centre for Food Safety is seeking legal advice on whether to take criminal action against a Hong Kong trading company suspected of selling oil intended for animal feed to Taiwan as fit for human consumption.
Documents from a Yuen Long manufacturer show that it sold the oil, produced from pork fat, to Globalway with the proper indication that it be used either as animal feed or for industrial purposes. But Globalway shipped it to Taiwan as edible oil and its invoice indicated it was "fit for human consumption" and free from pollution.
"We feel that the way [Globalway] handled [this] oil may be problematic, and we are seeking advice from the Department of Justice on whether to pursue legal action against the company," said the centre's consultant Dr Philip Ho Yuk-yin.
Taiwan's food and drug authority said yesterday that the Chang Guann company had imported more than 2,400 tonnes of the oil from Hong Kong since 2008, 300 tonnes of which were certified for "human use".
The manufacturer of the oil, Po Yuen Lard Company in Yuen Long, said it made the oil from unsold pork from wet markets. It sold it to local animal feed factories, bio-diesel factories and export companies.
Owner Kwok Wai-kwong told the Post: "Our products had been labelled, but of course I will not ask [customers] what they are going to use it for."
Chiang Yu-mei, deputy director general of Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration, said authorities were also investigating if the certificates were faked, as shipment and customs documents showed that the oil had certificates from Hong Kong notaries indicating that they had inspected the products.
It was shipped to Taiwan in two batches in March and May. The certificates said the oil was tested for acid value, aflatoxins and heavy metal and met all safety requirements, Chiang said.
The administration said it had sought help from Hong Kong authorities to check the sources and quality of the oil supplied by Globalway.
Chang Guann is accused of blending the oil with "gutter oil", an illegal substance made from kitchen waste and edible oil.
In Beijing, a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office again confirmed the mainland had not imported any of the oil. He said quality watchdogs were checking import records and if any food products made with the oil were found they would be taken off shelves.
CCTV said Xiamen authorities had traced 4.9 tonnes of affected foods imported from Taiwan. Guangdong had not imported any such products since at least 2013, Xinhua reported.
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The Centre for Food Safety is seeking legal advice on whether to take criminal action against a Hong Kong trading company suspected of selling oil intended for animal feed to Taiwan as fit for human consumption.
Documents from a Yuen Long manufacturer show that it sold the oil, produced from pork fat, to Globalway with the proper indication that it be used either as animal feed or for industrial purposes. But Globalway shipped it to Taiwan as edible oil and its invoice indicated it was "fit for human consumption" and free from pollution.
"We feel that the way [Globalway] handled [this] oil may be problematic, and we are seeking advice from the Department of Justice on whether to pursue legal action against the company," said the centre's consultant Dr Philip Ho Yuk-yin.
Taiwan's food and drug authority said yesterday that the Chang Guann company had imported more than 2,400 tonnes of the oil from Hong Kong since 2008, 300 tonnes of which were certified for "human use".
The manufacturer of the oil, Po Yuen Lard Company in Yuen Long, said it made the oil from unsold pork from wet markets. It sold it to local animal feed factories, bio-diesel factories and export companies.
Owner Kwok Wai-kwong told the Post: "Our products had been labelled, but of course I will not ask [customers] what they are going to use it for."
Read More: Starbucks and 7-Eleven in Hong Kong drawn into ‘gutter oil’ scandal
Kwok said he had obtained the relevant licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. He added that Globalway was not a regular customer and they last did business in February.Chiang Yu-mei, deputy director general of Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration, said authorities were also investigating if the certificates were faked, as shipment and customs documents showed that the oil had certificates from Hong Kong notaries indicating that they had inspected the products.
It was shipped to Taiwan in two batches in March and May. The certificates said the oil was tested for acid value, aflatoxins and heavy metal and met all safety requirements, Chiang said.
The administration said it had sought help from Hong Kong authorities to check the sources and quality of the oil supplied by Globalway.
Chang Guann is accused of blending the oil with "gutter oil", an illegal substance made from kitchen waste and edible oil.
In Beijing, a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office again confirmed the mainland had not imported any of the oil. He said quality watchdogs were checking import records and if any food products made with the oil were found they would be taken off shelves.
CCTV said Xiamen authorities had traced 4.9 tonnes of affected foods imported from Taiwan. Guangdong had not imported any such products since at least 2013, Xinhua reported.
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