Tag Archives: RPA

Burnley grocer fined for selling defective produce

In the second such story in a few weeks, a Burnley shopkeeper has been fined for selling rotten fruit and vegetables following an investigation by the Rural Payments Agency’s Horticultural Marketing inspectors.

Mohammad Zakur and his company All Fresh Fruit & Veg Ltd was fined £2,440 at Burnley Magistrates Court on 4 December 2015 after an HMI investigation in April 2015 found 11 regulated displays breaking EU marketing rules for fresh produce quality and labelling, including pears and lemons which failed to meet the lowest marketable standards permitted. Mr Zakur entered guilty pleas on both his and the company’s behalf to all 11 charges.

Rural Payments Agency Operations Director Paul Caldwell said, ““In this case, a series of risk-based inspection visits were made to the store where we offered advice and guidance on how the marketing standards can add real value to a business. Mr Zakur failed to ensure the quality and labelling of the fresh produce he was offering on sale to consumers met the required minimum standards.”

Photo Credit: Gov.uk

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Kent shopkeeper fined for selling rotten fruit

A Kentish shopkeeper has been fined for selling rotten fruit and vegetables after an inspection by the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (HMI).

Ishtiaq Ahmed, proprietor of the Garden of England store in Canterbury was sentenced at Canterbury Magistrates Court on 23 November 2015. An HMI investigation in April found nine breaches of EU marketing rules for fresh produce quality and labelling, including apples and lemons which failed to meet the lowest marketable standards permitted.

Rural Payments Agency Operations Director Paul Caldwell commented, “Prosecution is only used as a last resort and we will always try to get businesses complying with the marketing standards through advice and guidance and, where possible, with the full cooperation and support from the business itself.”

Mr Ahmed pleaded guilty and was fined £1,305 for the offences, £2,871.42 for the prosecution’s costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Photo Credit: Gov.uk

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