Customs arrests director over baby wash ingredient claim
On.cc · 4 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Customs said it arrested a 42-year-old female director of a trading company over suspected supply of a baby shampoo and body wash with a false trade description under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. The case followed a referral from the Consumer Council and testing that found limonene in a product labelled as not containing allergenic fragrance.
Key Points
- Customs said the investigation began after a Consumer Council referral alleging that a baby shampoo and body wash on sale did not match its claimed ingredients.
- Officers made a test purchase at a shop in Causeway Bay and sent the sample to the Government Laboratory for examination.
- Test results showed the product, labelled as free of allergenic fragrance, contained limonene at a detected level of 0.11%.
- Customs later inspected shops across different districts, seized 34 bottles of the same product from eight stores, and arrested the 42-year-old director.
- The arrested woman has been released on bail pending further investigation, and Customs said the case remains under inquiry.
Why It Matters
The case concerns a baby care product marketed with an ingredient claim that authorities say did not match laboratory findings, an issue likely to matter to parents choosing products for infants. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, supplying goods with a false trade description can carry a maximum penalty of a HK$500,000 fine and five years' imprisonment upon conviction