Company convicted at Downpatrick Court
Date published:
GB Poultry Ltd, Mary Street, Crossgar was convicted today at Downpatrick Court of two charges under the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.
GB Poultry Ltd was convicted on:
- One charge of carrying out an activity without notifying the competent authority. The activities were rewrapping a product supplied by another company.
- One charges of carrying out activities without the required approval.
GB Poultry Ltd pleaded guilty and was fined £2000.
The case arose, following joint inspections carried out on the 16th and 17th December 2024 by officials from DAERA Veterinary Public Health Program, the DAERA Welfare and Enforcement Branch, the Food Standards Agency and Newry Mourne and Down District Council. The inspectors found products which originated in another establishment which had then been rewrapped with GB Poultry Ltd packaging, which GB Poultry are not licensed to carry out. The officials also found crates of chicken mince which GB Poultry are not licensed to produce. Breaches of the regulations can lead to immediate and serious potential food safety issues, putting consumers at risk due to the potential production of unsafe food.
Notes to editors:
- GB Poultry Ltd was convicted on one charge of in contravention of EC Regulation 852/2004 Chapter II Article 6.2 and Annex 2 of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol, being a food business operator failed to notify the appropriate competent authority, in the manner that the latter requires, of each establishment under its control that carries out any of the stages of production, processing and distribution of food, with a view to the registration of each such establishment, contrary to Regulation 17(1) of the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.
- GB Poultry Ltd was convicted on one charge of being a food business operator, in contravention of EC Regulation 852/2004 Chapter II Article 6.3 and Annex 2 of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol, failed to ensure that the establishment was approved by the competent authority, contrary to Regulation 17(1) of the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.
- The Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 are a key legislative instrument that underpin food safety enforcement across the region. They implement EU hygiene directives and establish a risk-based framework for ensuring that food is produced, handled, and distributed in hygienic conditions.
- The regulations are significant in safeguarding public health, maintaining consumer confidence, and supporting trade. They clarify the responsibilities of food business operators, particularly around temperature control, traceability, and hygiene practices. By aligning with EU standards, they facilitate the movement of food products across borders and ensure Northern Ireland’s compliance with international obligations. For staff involved in food safety enforcement, these regulations form the legal basis for inspections, interventions, and prosecutions, and are essential for maintaining high standards across the food chain.
- Breaches under these regulations can lead to immediate and serious potential health hazards, putting consumers at risk due to the production of unsafe food
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