Traders try to beat rule on baby formula with sachets
Traders are attempting to beat the two-tin limit on exporting infant formula by selling small plastic bags filled with individual servings
Parallel-goods traders are already finding ways to dodge the two-tin limit on baby formula – weeks before the government is set to approve the new rule.
On Monday, the South China Morning Post found traders outside Sheung Shui station – a large-scale distribution centre for the parallel-goods business – apparently loading bags with milk powder packed in small sachets of individual servings instead of the usual large tins.
The tactic raises doubts about whether understaffed customs officials at the border will be able to enforce the new restrictions, designed to maintain supplies in Hong Kong in the face of a continuing backlash from the 2008 tainted milk formula scandal on the mainland.
Bernard Lee Kwan-kit, vice-chairman of the Association of Customs and Excise Service Officers, insisted such tricks did not mean the rules would fail.
"Officers are fully capable of detecting milk powder even if it is disguised. But the main difficulty for us is the tight resources," he said. "The additional work is going to be quite a heavy burden to us. We will be needing extra manpower, space and facilities such as X-ray machines in order to carry out this new duty."
We will be needing extra manpower, space and facilities such as X-ray machines in order to carry out this new duty
Health secretary Dr Ko Wing-man said he was inclined to push for tougher restrictions by limiting anyone leaving Hong Kong to two tins – or 1.8kg – a day rather than each trip. This would prevent mainland parallel-goods traders from simply making more trips each day to move their stock.