Legal News
Nottingham retailer prosecuted for selling fresh produce below minimum quality standards (8 February 2016)
Date: 08/02/2016
Nottingham City Council has prosecuted a retailer for offering for sale and selling rotten fruit and vegetables, which failed to meet the minimum quality standards.
An inspection by the Rural Payments Agency’s (RPA) Horticultural Marketing Inspectors (HMI) was conducted on 16 June 2015 – and inspectors found ten regulated displays in breach of the EU marketing rules for fresh produce quality and labelling, which included a display of loose mangoes and pre-packed nectarines displayed and on offer for sale in a rotten condition.
On 28 January 2016, the owner of the retail business trading as Oakdale Stores in Nottingham, Michael Coupland, was fined a total of £3,520 at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court, following an eight-month investigation by HMI.
Mr Coupland pleaded guilty to five separate quality and labelling offences, although other additional offences found on the day were taken into account by the court.
He was fined a total of £1,000 with £2,500 prosecution and investigation costs, with a £20 victim surcharge.
Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors
Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving consumer protection offences, including offering for sale or selling produce below minimum quality standards, selling counterfeit goods, mislabelling, weights and measures offences and breaches of health and safety or food hygiene.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and a Duncan Lewis solicitor can attend interviews with prosecuting or investigating authorities, such as local council environment officers, HMI, Border Force or the police.
For expert legal advice on consumer protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.