Dropping by: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow chats with a market tenant while attending a year-end cleaning exercise in Eastern District.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says the Government attaches great importance to reports of expired food sales, adding legislation on food safety and labelling works well.

Speaking after a year-end cleaning exercise in Eastern District today, Dr Chow said Hong Kong has the legislation to penalise anybody selling food or drugs that are improperly labelled or expired.

He did not think the situation is out of control, adding it is important to have co-operation between the trade and consumers.

"The trade should have the responsibility to ensure their products are safe and also the expiry dates are being observed. Consumers should observe the condition of the food they are purchasing," he said.

"If they see any of those products on the shelves are expired, they should tell those people who sell it. If they keep on displaying them on the shelves, they should actually inform our Government."