Illegally imported pork labelled as fish

A Perth import business has been fined more than $50,000 for illegally importing pork products labelled as fish from Taiwan. The importer reportedly concealed the products among other imported goods and fraudulently invoiced as he knew the product is prohibited in Australia.

Importing company Vihentico was fined $52,250 for illegally importing 26,040 packets of Songlin Brand Fish Maw from Taiwan between 2007 and 2010. The company’s owner, James Huynh, received a suspended eight-month custodial sentence and a $5000 good-behaviour bond.

“Fish maw is traditionally made from the swim bladders of fish, but this brand of the product contains pork skin and not a single trace of fish,” said Raelene Vivian, First Assistant Secretary of the Department of Agriculture’s Compliance Division.

“Australia does not allow pork products to be imported from Taiwan as biosecurity risks have not been assessed and risk-management measures are not in place.

“One of the risks associated with pork products is foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease which, should it become established in the country, has been estimated to cost Australia around $50 billion over a decade. Taiwan had several cases of FMD during the period that the illegal importing took place.”