Lancashire fresh produce retailer fined after failing to meet marketing standards
Fresh produce retailer fined following HMI investigation
A Bury based retailer has been ordered to pay almost £10,800 for displaying, offering for sale and selling rotten fruit and vegetables that failed to meet minimum quality standards.
Mohammad Akram, Director of Kashmir Super Store (KSS) Ltd. was charged by Bury Magistrates Court on 29 November 2016, following a nine month long investigation by the Rural Payments Agency’s (RPA) Horticultural Marketing Inspectors (HMI).
A final HMI inspection conducted on 17 March 2016, found six displays in breach of the EU marketing rules for fresh produce quality and labelling, including rotten honey dew melons and shelling peas.
Mr Akram failed to appear before the court and both he and the company were found guilty of all charges. Mr Akram was fined £2,640 and £2,009.79 costs and the company was fined £3,960 and 2,009.79 costs. A £120 victim surcharge was also applied.
Alison Johnson, RPA Operations Director said:
Concerted efforts were made by HMI to work closely with the business through face-to-face meetings, verbal warnings and formal written notices, all aimed at achieving improved compliance from the business.
Unfortunately such advice is not always heeded and when all other options have been exhausted we will resort to the use of criminal sanction to bring about a required change in behaviour.
Background
- Kashmir Super Store (KSS) Ltd. is based at 134 Rochdale Road, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 7BD.
- Horticultural Marketing Inspectors are part of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). The inspectors are responsible for the enforcement of the EU marketing standards for fresh fruit, vegetables, salad crops, nuts and cultivated mushroom, throughout England and Wales, wherever fresh produce is grown, imported, exported, bought or sold.