TACO Arrests Two Persons in Crackdown on Illegal Online Sale of Alternative Smoking Products

DH conducts operation to crack down on illegal online sale of alternative smoking products

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (May 8) that it had conducted a four-day enforcement operation codenamed "Thunderstone" from May 4 to 7, in order to crack down on the illegal online sale of alternative smoking products (ASPs). During the operation, two men were arrested and nearly 2 000 ASPs were seized.

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO), Photo source: reference image

Through routine online and offline inspections, TACO officers discovered illegal online sales of ASPs and conducted test purchase operations. Two men, aged 29 and 39, were arrested during the operation in Tseung Kwan O and Lai Chi Kok respectively on suspicion of illegally selling and possessing ASPs for commercial purposes. A total of 1 982 ASPs were seized from them. TACO is following up on the cases and charges will be laid against the suspects when sufficient evidence is found.

According to the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), a person who imports ASPs, including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, commits an offence and isliable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years, or liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) prohibits the promotion, manufacture, sale and possession for commercial purposes of ASPs. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. From April 30, 2026,any person who possesses specified ASPs, including e-cigarette capsules, liquids, heat sticks and herbal cigarettes in public places is liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000. If the quantity possessed exceeds the specified limit or involves commercial purposes, the maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The DH reminds the public that promoting and selling ASPs through any channel, including the Internet, also carries criminal liability. Do not risk breaking the law. The public is also reminded that purchasing ASPs online may involve their importation and may constitute a breach of the law.

The DH also reminds members of the public that ASPs are addictive and are not effective smoking cessation tools. E-cigarettes may increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Smokers are urged to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For assistance, please call the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, or visit www.livetobaccofree.hk for information on quitting.

Photo source: reference image

CFS continues to follow up on soft ice-cream sample detected with coliform bacteria count exceeding legal limits

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 22) said that subsequent to an announcement yesterday(May 21) that a soft ice-cream sample from a licensed itinerant hawker (mobile van) in Central was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit, a follow-up investigation showed that another soft ice-cream sample collected from the same mobile van was also found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. This sample was collected before preventive and control measures instituted by the CFS. The follow-up investigation is ongoing.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS again collected soft ice-cream sample from the mobile van concerned for testing when following up on the related incident yesterday. The test result showed that the sample contained 540 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

"The CFS has conducted follow-up investigation of the mobile van concerned again. According to the CFS's advice, the person-in-charge of the licence concerned has already disposed all the affected soft ice-cream and suspended the operation of the mobile van concerned since yesterday and carried out thorough cleaning and disinfection. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge of the licence concerned to ensure that the person-in-charge has adopted relevant improvement measures," the spokesman said.

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

Source: AI-found images