Rural Payments Agency
A Yorkshire based retailer has been fined for displaying, offering for sale and selling rotten fruit and vegetables that failed to meet minimum quality standards.
Mohammed Atif Anwar, Manager of Asia Foods in Huddersfield appeared at Huddersfield Magistrates Court on 1 March 2016, following a six month long investigation by the Rural Payments Agencys (RPA) Horticultural Marketing Inspectors (HMI).
A final HMI inspection conducted on 3 August 2015, found five displays in breach of the EU marketing rules for fresh produce, including rotten melons and peaches.
In court Mr Anwar pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined 1,200 (300 each for four quality offences, with a fifth labelling charge dropped), 600 costs and a 30 victim surcharge.
Paul Caldwell, 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
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Asia Foods is based at 97 Yew Hill Road, Huddersfield, HD1 3SG.
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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.