The wholesaler was fined €16,000 in a ruling by Judge Gráinne Malone at Navan District Court for six offences related to breaches of food safety regulations.

The offences included falsely declaring imported beef as having an Irish origin; the application of false Irish slaughter and cutting plant codes used on packaging labels; and having an inadequate beef traceability plan.

The case was brought by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and follows an investigation undertaken by the FSAI in conjunction with Meath County Council. The Judge referred to the fact that this was a very serious matter and is a fraud not only on the consumer, but on the entire industry.

Accurate information

Commenting on the case, Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO of the FSAI, said food businesses are obliged by law to ensure the information they provide to their customers is accurate.

“Customers must have confidence in their food suppliers and should seek to assure themselves that the food they are purchasing is authentic and that the integrity of the supply chain has not been compromised.

“Food businesses should ensure that they have robust traceability systems in place and that they carry out their own audits of their suppliers to check that they have the appropriate food safety systems in place and are complying with the law,” she said.