The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on October 8 announced that a trace amount of malachite green was found in a rabbitfish sample. A follow-up is in progress.

A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned rabbitfish sample from a stall in a market in Tung Chung for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained a trace amount of malachite green at a level of 1.4 parts per billion."

The spokesman said that the CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale of the affected product. The CFS is also tracing the source of the product concerned.

Malachite green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infections in fish. Currently, malachite green has been prohibited for use in food-producing animals in many countries. According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap 132AF), no food sold in Hong Kong is allowed to contain malachite green. Offenders will be prosecuted and will be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.

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