Friday, 24 April 2015 06:00

Meat sellers prosecuted

Written by Rural News Group

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Meat inspection.

A Ministry of Primary Industries operation in Auckland has led to the prosecution of several meats sellers after raw meat samples were found to contain non-compliant substances.

The charges were laid after a 2013 MPI operation, which found raw meat containing sulphites/sulphur dioxide at several business in the greater Auckland areas.

In total, 15 meat wholesalers/retailers and three company directors were charged and appeared before the Manukau and Auckland District Courts in late 2014 and early 2015.

According to Beef + Lamb none of those prosecuted are part of any major supermarket or high profile butchery chains.

In addition to fines, Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive officer, Rod Slater says there are serious implications for those found to be non-compliant.

“Make no mistake; there is no room for this type of operator in New Zealand. We take these offences extremely seriously and support MPI’s actions.

“In the main, we find New Zealand retailers and wholesalers are extremely proud of the standards which they are upholding. This behaviour is definitely not the norm and I think you’ll find the rest of the industry will be left extremely disappointed,” says Slater.

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