A Radnorshire man has been ordered to pay over £6,000 after pleading guilty to food hygiene offences and animal by-product offences, including operating an illegal slaughterhouse, in a prosecution led by Powys County Council.
 |
| [relatedPosts title=”Related Posts”] |
|
|
Gareth Mills, formerly of Cefnbronllys Farm, Llanddewi, Llandrindod Wells appeared before Brecon Law Courts yesterday (Wednesday 20 February) and pleaded guilty to two charges under the Food Hygiene Regulations and a further two charges under the Animal By-Products Regulations and illegal slaughtered and processed meat destined for human consumption was seized and animal by-products were found in a Powys raid.
The court heard that the raid was code-named Operation Rudolph, which involved a multi-disciplinary team comprising of Powys County Council Environmental Health and Trading Standards Officers; the Welsh Food Fraud Co-ordination Unit (WFFCU); Animal Health Veterinary Laboratory Agency (AHVLA) and Dyfed Powys Police Officers.
Two outbuildings at Cefnbronllys farm were equipped and utilised to undertake slaughter and butchery operations, the court heard. Officers found sheep heads and slaughtering equipment within the slaughter barn.
The on-farm butchery room contained a walk-in chiller full of carcasses and prepared boxed meat. Also in the room were meat cleavers, knives, wooden chopping blocks, a commercial sausage making machine, a commercial mincer and weighing scales.
In court, Mr Mills pleaded guilty to two charges under Food Hygiene Regulations involving the operation of an unlicensed slaughterhouse, including the production and placing on the market unsafe food for human consumption and was fined £2,000 for these offences. He also pleaded to two separate offences under the Animal By-Products Regulations was fined £1,000 for these offences.
Mr Mills was also ordered to pay £3,000 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Cllr Barry Thomas, Cabinet Member responsible for Environmental Health and Trading Standards, said: “This case sends a strong message that we will exercise our enforcement powers when food safety is being compromised.
“Meat intended to be sold for human consumption must, by law, be processed through a licensed slaughterhouse to safeguard animal welfare and protect public health. Anyone who runs a food business must register with the council, so our Environmental Health Officers can work with them to ensure food hygiene is being managed properly.
“This also sends a reminder to the agricultural community that they have a duty to ensure that animal carcasses and by-products are disposed of in the correct manner.”
