To protect public safety and prevent fraudulent behaviour, the General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression (CCF) in January confiscated more than 14 tonnes expired or defective goods, some of which contained chemicals or other illegal additives.
In the same month, it found 110 fuel merchants who were operating with sub-standard business practises.
According to a report seen by The Post on January 31, the CCF last month inspected markets and warehouses, finding 2.53 tonnes of goods which were defective, expired or contained chemicals.
It intercepted 7.79 tonnes of imported shrimp injected with CMC jelly and filed a lawsuit for infringement of a company’s copyright by inspecting eight locations and confiscating 3.87 tonnes that imitated a well known brand.
It also confiscated 175l of counterfeit alcohol which was tainted with methanol, a dangerous product, and inspected 272 fuel merchants across the country, finding 110 depots with dishonest business practices.
CCF director-general Phan Oun told The Post on January 31 that overall, the inspections at fuel business locations in January saw a decrease compared to previous years. Crimes related to using chemicals in food seem to be on the rise, however.
“Due to recent increases in demand for shrimp and particularly the rise of shrimp imported from neighbouring countries, we have been discovering more cases of the phenomenon of injecting CMC jelly into shrimp,” he said.
Oun added that while the amount of goods confiscated for infringing rules had risen in January, there had been a notable decline in other offences relating to food safety. He attributed the decrease to public awareness of the potential harm that inappropriate practises could cause.
In 2021, the CCF inspected 569 markets nationwide and confiscated 36.4 tonnes of non-compliant goods for destruction. Another highlight of CCF’s successful year was the destruction of 78 barrels of a chemical that was to be sprayed on vegetables to disguise their decay.