A Yuen Long vegetable stall owner has been fined $2,500 by Fanling Magistracy for supplying produce with false claims of organic authentication by the Baptist University.

The Customs & Excise Department today reminded retailers to ensure their organic vegetables have accurate certification labels.

Customs officers seized 125kg of organic vegetables worth $2,450 at the stall in Tai Kiu Market last September. The owner claimed the vegetables originated from his organic farm which had been certified by the university and a banner stating "organic vegetables, certified by the HKBU" was displayed.

An investigation found the farm had been certified by the university's Organic Resource Centre, but no vegetables were found growing on it. The vegetables sold at the stall were sourced from other unauthenticated farms.

The department said unscrupulous traders falsely claim their products are organic to make a higher profit.