FSA News Item, 8 January 2008
The Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI) has welcomed yesterday's conviction of a meat coldstore in County Fermanagh for offences under food hygiene legislation at Magherafelt Magistrates Court.
Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd was prosecuted by FSANI for offences under the hygiene regulations that applied to the licensed meat coldstore including use of the premises for a purpose for which it was not licensed and breaches of health marking requirements as laid down by European and national law.
The company has been fined £5000 on each of 13 breaches of the regulations, making a total fine of £65,000.
FSANI Director Morris McAllister said: 'We are very pleased with the magistrate's decision. This prosecution sends a clear-cut message that the FSA will vigorously protect the interests of consumers and pursue food businesses where unlawful activity is detected. This verdict is recognition by the courts of the hard work carried out by staff from the Agency, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and District Councils in pursuing this case.
'This was a complex multi-agency investigation that has required extensive resources, including the gathering and review of considerable amounts of evidence, and we thank our colleagues in DARD, the Meat Hygiene Service, Fermanagh District Council, and others, for their efforts in achieving this successful outcome.'
The investigation began in November 2005 when DARD officers made FSANI aware of possible unlawful activity at a meat and poultry coldstore operated by Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd, in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. The investigation related to almost 406 tonnes of foodstuffs found in the coldstore, and the focus of the enquiry was on illegal repackaging. The coldstore licence was suspended and product removed and condemned as appropriate.
Background to the case
The Food Standards Agency had previously pursued a prosecution against Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd on 9 May 2007 in this matter but, on 1 June 2007, the Agency was advised by letter from the Court Service that the conviction had been voided by Enniskillen Magistrates Court following a declaration by the Company Secretary of the company that she was unaware of the summons or proceedings relating to the case.