Halal wholesaler fined £25,000 over controlled waste
However, the company has confirmed to FoodManufacture.co.uk that it planned to lodge an appeal.
The ruling took place on July 11 at Birmingham Magistrates Court against Premium Halal Meat and Poultry, based at Unit W5, The Saturn Centre, Bissell Street, Highgate, Birmingham.
Premium Halal Meat and Poultry was prosecuted by Birmingham City Council for an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
It was fined £24,000 and ordered to pay £1,541 towards court costs plus a £120 victim surcharge.
The ruling was made in the company’s absence as no one from Premium attended the court on July 11.
Environmental health officers
According to the council, environmental health officers visited the site on four occasions between March 31 2015 and June 19 2015. The visits followed complaints about controlled waste, which included boxes, invoices and plastic packaging.
According to the council, they were being found outside the premises and strewn along Bissell Street.
However, the company had already refuted the claims and pleaded not guilty to the charges on May 26 2016.
A spokesman said that the director of the company had been unable to attend the court on the day due to being ill with food poisoning.
The company confirmed to FoodManufacture.co.uk that it planned to lodge an appeal against the ruling.
‘No way we are responsible’
The spokesman said: “There is no way we are responsible for that amount of rubbish.
“On the street are two other food manufacturers and a printing company and we have been blamed for it all.”
However, Cllr Barbara Dring, chair of the licensing and public protection committee, said: “There is no excuse for businesses to let their rubbish pollute public streets or land, they must have arrangements in place for their trade waste to be collected and disposed of properly.
“Food packaging, especially from meat and poultry products, should be disposed of responsibly as it may carry bacteria such as campylobacter, which can be found on raw chicken and can cause food poisoning.
“We need to respect our neighbourhoods, so it is disappointing to see rubbish being strewn along our streets. Everybody has a responsibility to keep our city’s streets clean.”
In 2013, Premium Halal Meat Poultry was fined £10,000 after being found guilty of making and receiving round-the-clock deliveries, despite being banned from doing so between 7pm and 6am.
The company was also ordered to pay £7,000 legal costs after repeatedly ignoring warnings from council officers.
