11 tonnes of tainted seafood destroyed

Shrimp injected with jelly like substance Pic Camcontrol

The Ministry of Commerce’s General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Prevention has destroyed more than 11 tonnes of seafood which were injected with a chemical substance. The officials are now looking for the owner of the goods to take legal action.

Phan Oun, director-general of the General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Prevention said yesterday 449 boxes transported in three cars with more than 11 tonnes of tainted seafood, including frozen shrimps injected with a chemical substance, crabs and squids, were stopped by the General Department’s officers in collaboration with the Phnom Penh municipal police and the Phnom Penh Municipal Court prosecutor on Friday in Dangkor district’s Kamboul commune.

He added, after questioning the drivers [the people transporting the seafood], they found no legal documents pertaining to the source of origin of where the seafood was being transported from. It might have been brought in through Prek Chak border checkpoint in Kampot province (bordering Vietnam). However, we cannot confirm as we have to wait for further investigation.”

Mr Oun said currently, experts and the prosecutor have been searching for the owners of those products to take further legal action. The three vehicles carrying the products are being impounded at the General Department.

According to Mr Oun, the tainted seafood, which consisted mostly of frozen shrimps were injected with chemical substances. 11,225 kilogrammes of seafood were destroyed by officials at the landfill in Dangkor district on Saturday.

He has also warned legal action will be taken without exemption against any dealer who imports counterfeit, tainted goods, or chemical substances injected which affect consumers’ health. He appealed to citizens to be cautious and report any cases regarding the counterfeit of quality and safety of goods and services.

Pa Vattana, 38, a resident of Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district, lauded the officials’ effort for cracking down on the tainted seafood, especially the shrimp which contained the chemical substances from further distribution in the market, which affect the health of consumers.

“Please continue to crack down on such illegal traders, and check the quality of the goods in the markets to protect the welfare of the people,” she said.

Credited: Khmer Times