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Prosecution Bulletins
| March 11, 2003 |
New Westminster, B.C.
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Unlawful import of frozen clams results in $750 fine
On February 27, 2003, Ikbal Khan, doing business as Khan’s Import and
Export, entered a guilty plea in Richmond Provincial Court to one count of
violating the Fish Inspection Act. Mr.
Khan was fined $750.00 for unlawfully importing into Canada from Fiji a
quantity of frozen clams without a fish import licence, contrary to section
6(2)(d) of the Fish Inspection Regulations, which states no person
shall import into Canada, or attempt to import into Canada, any fish unless
that person is the holder of an import licence.
In December, 2001, inspectors with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) were alerted
to a situation in Surrey, B.C. that
raised questions about whether a shipment of frozen clams had entered Canada
with the proper paperwork. In addition, CFIA’s subsequent lab tests
revealed high counts of E. coli in all samples of the clams that were
analyzed.
The presence of high levels of E. coli means these clam products could have
been potentially very dangerous. An importer must be in possession of an active
import licence issued by the CFIA, which requires the importer
to report all fish and fish products to the CFIA within 48 hours of their
importation into Canada. This enables CFIA inspectors to determine
whether the products require inspection. This is to prevent the marketing of
unsafe, unwholesome or mislabelled products. The production and trade of safe
food for consumers is a prime concern and responsibility of CFIA.
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For more information, please contact:
John Bouchard
Enforcement and Investigation Services
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
New Westminster, B.C.
Ph: (604) 666-1686 |
Sam Rainboth
Communications Officer
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
New Westminster, B.C.
Ph: (604) 666-1357 |
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