Inspecting an advertisement published on Facebook, Latvian Food and Veterinary Service uncovered illegal trade of sheep meat, canned meat storage and meat product distribution organized in an office building on Selpils Street, Riga.
Upon performing a control purchase, inspectors found that tins with meat were either not labeled or improperly labeled, making it impossible to tell for certain where the meat came from.
On top of that, the company responsible for distribution of said products – Bauernhof – is not allowed to produce or distribute canned meat products of other companies, because it is registered as a meat supplier that is only allowed to sell meat produced of animals grown at its owned farm.
FVS emphasizes that frozen meat according to explanations from Bauernhof, is home-made. Such meat is allowed for personal use, but it is not allowed to be sold to other people.
During the inspection, officials confiscated 392 boxes with tins containing sauteed lamb, 21 boxes with meat sub-products, 55 kg of frozen mutton and ten sheep heads. Administrative violation procedure has been commenced.
FVS has also checked two advertisements on ss.lv that offer private persons to buy canned and smoked venison. In both cases FVS has concluded there is illegal involvement in food trade.
“Food and Veterinary Service often receives information about possible illegal trade of food, veterinary medicine and food additives on the Internet. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable. Because of that, they turn to FVS before making purchases on the Internet from unknown parties. Legally working companies, manufacturers and distributors follow advertisements as well. The same applies to cases that distort competition and increase grey economy,” FVS representatives explain. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
