A Bradford retailer has been prosecuted for displaying and offering sub-standard or incorrectly labelled fresh fruit.

Horticultural Marketing Inspections (HMI), part of the Rural Payments Agency, has successfully prosecuted Mr Rehan Hanif, trading as Hasaan Danyal Foods.

The move followed a series of risk assessment visits, including conformity check visits, guidance and warnings issued by HMI inspectors over a 15-month period between November 2007 and January 2009.

Hanif pleaded guilty at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on September 1 to a total of 21 separate breaches of the EC Marketing Standards for quality and labelling offences. At a sentencing hearing, held on September 15, he was fined a total of £2,000. The fully itemised costs for the prosecution of £4,000 were awarded in full which, along with victims’ surcharge, gave a total liability of £6,015.

The charges related to breaches of the EC Marketing Standards for fresh fruit and vegetables. HMI inspectors carried out a series of targeted, risk-based inspections between November 2007 and January 2009, during which time they offered advice and guidance on grading rules.

A statement from HMI said: “Despite repeated attempts at seeking compliance, including HMI issue of formal written notices and verbal warnings, and provision of an action plan, the firm still made no significant or lasting improvements.”

This resulted in HMI making a final evidence gathering inspection on January 8, when they recorded the 21 separate quality and labelling offences. The following consignments were recorded in this prosecution as failing to meet the lowest marketable class permitted; two separate consignments of Golden Delicious and Royal Gala apples, a consignment of table grapes, variety not stated, and shelling peas.

There were also a number of consignments found to be on display and on offer for sale in contravention of the EC labelling rules. These consignments included two separate consignments of Spanish satsumas, Spanish clementines and oranges, Egyptian oranges, two consignments of Canary Island tomatoes, Italian plums, Argentinean cherries, apples from the US, Moroccan courgettes, Spanish iceberg lettuce and Indian aubergines.

In passing sentence, the district judge indicated that the amount of costs sought by the prosecution was entirely appropriate and had taken into account the defendant’s means. She indicated that the authorities had tried to give support to the shop, but the defendant had not taken up that support.

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