Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development disclosed the seizure of packaged hotdog products, smuggled by Chinese travellers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on July 16. WORLD KNOWLEDGE PAGE
In a sweeping move, the Consumer Protection Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General (CCF) has started investigating markets nationwide, looking for a specific hotdog variety imported from China.
The investigation was triggered after a warning was received from Thai authorities who detected dangerous, health-harming ingredients in the said hotdogs.
On July 16, Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development made a social media announcement. The department disclosed the seizure of packaged hotdog products, smuggled by Chinese travellers, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
These pork hotdogs were suspected to carry the risk of African swine fever (ASF).
Responding swiftly, Phan Oun, the Royal Government’s delegate and the director-general of the CCF, spoke to The Post on July 17.
He said he had tasked expert officials with investigating all markets in Cambodia. He assured that the CCF would disclose the specifics or actions once they have collected all pertinent information.
“Currently, we are without precise details, so I have requested my team to commence an investigation.
“We have delegated expert officials to conduct market assessments.
“Following these, we will issue a notice to provisionally halt the product’s distribution,” Oun said.
Hotdogs belong to a group of six food categories that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport have prohibited from school sales nationwide.
These items were found to be extremely detrimental to children’s health and education.
Backing the CCF directorate-general’s actions, Hou Kroeun, the deputy country director at nutrition NGO Helen Keller International in Cambodia, said the country should promptly ensure dangerous products weren’t available in Cambodian markets.
“When our neighbouring countries are barring their citizens from consuming and importing these products, it signifies their high risk.
“I fully agree and back these measures from the Ministry of Commerce. We need strict rules to prevent these products from being sold in Cambodia,” he stated.
