Auckland beauty salesperson fined $31,500 for selling banned edible bird's nests

Linying Ouyang had been selling the nests through WeChat, a Chinese social media app.
Linying Ouyang had been selling the nests through WeChat, a Chinese social media app. Photo credit: Reuters / Getty

An Auckland beauty salesperson has been fined $31,500 for possession, selling and attempting to sell banned edible bird's nests.

Linying Ouyang, 30, was convicted and fined on Monday in the Waitakere District Court.  Ouyang had been selling the nests through WeChat, a Chinese social media app.

The court found the offending was premeditated and involved selling the goods for financial gain.

Ouyang's offending took place between May and November 2019. She pleaded guilty to three charges under the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The offending involved $765 in sold bird's nests, MPI said.

"Bird's nests are a Chinese delicacy made from the saliva of the Swiftlet bird," said Ron Scott, MPI compliance investigations national manager.

"Swiftlets can carry avian diseases, and are a biosecurity risk; this is why [the] untreated product is not allowed into New Zealand."

In late 2019, Ouyang's phone and laptop were seized which revealed two completed sales of bird's nests via WeChat.

"Ms Ouyang also posted a photo of the dry edible bird's nests she was selling," MPI said.

"All New Zealanders are reminded that if they are concerned about any suspicious imported animal products to contact Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 809 966."