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A greengrocer in Burnley, Lancashire has been prosecuted for selling defective fruit and for mislabelling offences.
Inspectors from the Rural Payments Agency’s Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (HMI) investigated Mohammad Zakur and his company, All Fresh Fruit & Veg Ltd – located at Colne Road in Burnley – and found pears on display and on offer for sale with skin defects.
An HMI investigation in April 2015 also found 11 regulated displays breaking the EU marketing rules for fresh produce quality and labelling, including defective 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. He was fined £700 for the offences, £500 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. The company was fined £700 for the offences, £500 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Rural Payments Agency Operations Director Paul Caldwell said:
“This is another example of the work we carry out to protect consumers. They should be able to buy good quality fresh produce, which is labelled correctly.
“We see prosecution as a last resort and always try to gain compliance with quality and labelling regulations, through advice, guidance and instruction.
“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.”
Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors
Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a consumer protection offence, including mislabelling offences, selling defective or faulty goods, weights and measures offences and selling counterfeit goods.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence lawyer can attend interviews with prosecuting authorities.
For expert legal advice on consumer protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.