Last month, Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard how Southall-based Al Noor ltd failed to notify port authorities in Suffolk about a shipment of spice mixes it received in May 2022.
The shipment, containing various spice mixes from Pakistan, had been classified as high risk due to a potential contamination of aflatoxins – carcinogens linked to liver cancer.
Shipments containing these imported spices must be sampled and importers are required to notify ports of any incoming shipments, both of which Al Noor failed to do.
Illegally imported
Once removed from the port without the checks taking place, the consignment of food was designated as illegally imported. After being notified by Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority, Ealing Council’s food safety team ordered the business to destroy the products within 60 days.
However, a compliance check in July 2022 found that more than half of the shipment was missing and unaccounted for. A follow-up inspection days later revealed that boxes had been relabelled and repacked in what was considered to be an attempt to disguise the contents.
While the products were eventually disposed of, the business only did so eight days after the 60-day deadline had expired. The court also the business had intentionally obstructed authorised officers carrying out compliance checks.
The company and its director Ahmed Akhlaq, of Parlaunt Road, Slough, pleaded guilty to the unauthorised removal of goods and failing to comply with an official notice. Al Noor Ltd was ordered to pay a fine, victim surcharge and costs totalling £9,424, while Akhlaq was ordered to pay a total of £3,285, for the two offences.
Grave consequences
Commenting on the case, councillor Kamaljit Nagpal said: “Obstructing food safety officers is a very serious offence and is not taken lightly by the council. The consequences for the business’ customers in this case could have been grave if council officers had not stepped in to enforce the law.
“We are pleased that the court’s fine reflects the gravity of the case. We will always seek the strongest possible punishments for companies which gamble with the public’s safety.”
Laurence Jarrold, technical specialist for the Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority, added: “Without Ealing Council’s assistance, this could have led to unchecked high-risk products with significant potential health risks being placed on the market, posing a risk to consumers.”
Meanwhile, post-Brexit border checks are failing to prevent the flow of diseased meat into the UK, according to the head of the Dover Port Health Authority.
