Crackdown on pretend Kobe beef (3)

The carriers of the smuggled meat are largely middle-aged Japanese men, the spokesman said. Sometimes Taiwan people were also found carrying the contraband meat.

To curb the smuggling of Japan-produced beef, experts called for more severe penalties on smugglers and education of consumers who are unaware of the risks of meat produced in epidemic regions.

Shen Fujun, a law professor at East China University of Political Science and Law, said that rather than only issuing fines, legislators should consider criminal penalties for habitual violators.