A man has been given a suspended sentence in England for food safety offences.
Arfan Sultan, from Ilford, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Nov. 14 following an investigation by the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) and Redbridge Council into the illegal production and distribution of smokies prepared in unhygienic and unregulated conditions.
Smokies are made by singeing the fleece of illegally slaughtered sheep, rams or goats. The probe uncovered a cutting plant operating without a food business registration and led to the removal of a large quantity of meat from the human food chain.
Sultan was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for 18 months, 240 hours of unpaid work and £3,000 costs ($3,900). He pleaded guilty to eight offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.
Illegal smokies production
Kam Rai, leader of Redbridge Council, said: “The production and processing of meat in this manner is illegal because we cannot guarantee it is safe for consumption. This sentencing marks the end of a long and determined investigation to hold a food criminal to account. This individual operated with complete disregard for public health, motivated solely by greed.”
Sultan was found in possession of a vehicle containing 1.6 tons of smokies and was involved in their processing and supply.
Neil Castle, deputy head of the NFCU, which is part of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), said the sentence reflects the serious nature of the offences.
“The NFCU, in partnership with police and Redbridge Council, have been working on an investigation into food hygiene related offences, and illegal slaughter of sheep and goats. Because of the way they are made, smokies breach food safety law, and often animal welfare legislation,” he said.
According to the 2024 Food Crime Strategic Assessment from the FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), demand for smokies has created opportunities for organized criminals operating from a few locations in the UK, serving consumers in major cities via retail outlets and personal supply. Religious festivals and other special occasions generate increased demand for smokies.
Production is concentrated in rural areas of Wales with some activity in Scotland and Cornwall. Carcasses are transported to sites such as Birmingham and London. Links have also been established to Ireland.
Canada and Trichinella
In other news, the FSA and FSS have found that Canada’s measures in relation to Trichinella do not comply with the requirements in UK legislation.
This means all pigs for meat export to the UK from Canada must either test negative for Trichinella, or meat must be frozen in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Defra’s UK Office for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Trade Assurance had asked the FSA to assess whether checks by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in relation to Controlled Housing Conditions for Trichinella could be recognized under UK legislation on food safety requirements.
An assessment revealed that while the CFIA has implemented several measures to control Trichinella in swine, there are notable gaps in compliance, such as reporting requirements. Any future consideration of Canada’s approach would require a formal review by UK authorities to confirm that all relevant criteria have been satisfied.
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