During the last three months, 77 cases (out of 210 cases) were decided by the Magistrate’s Court during 12 Health Sittings held. From these cases, 55 were new while the remaining were brought forward from other months/years.

From the cases heard in the last quarter, those found guilty were given conditional discharges ranging from one month to three years and to fines, the total of which amounted to €3,347.

The fines imposed were:

·         Hawker at Zurrieq Open Market was fined €467 for failing to provide a wash hand basin and sink in November 2011 and for being a relapser back in January 2011.

·         Fifu Bar, Misrah il-Bjar, Zejtun was fined €470 for not abiding with an undertaking which was entered into 1 March 2010.

·         Cremona Meat Products Butcher Shop, Lord Byron Street, Hamrun was fined €500 for exposing for sale frozen chicken products at a temperature of more than -12°C and for not having an adequate traceability system  in March 2012.

·         Camilleri Wines UB33, Industrial Estate, San Gwann was fined €470 for failing to abide with an undertaking entered upon 23 February 2012.

·         Reuben’s Cash and Carry, Triq Il-Burdnar, Qormi was fined €470 for failing to abide with an undertaking carried out on 25 April 2012.

·         Mini Market, 56A, Triq L-Imtarfa, Mtarfa was fined €470 for failing to abide with an undertaking carried out on 24 April 2012.

·         Tower Bakery, Industrial Estate, Xewkija, Gozo was fined €500 for failing to abide with an undertaking carried out on 17 May 2012.

 

The following were given conditional discharges for a stipulated period:

36 months

Hawker at Zurrieq Open Market for not providing a sink and wash hand basin in November 2011.

 

8 months

·          Mark’s Self Service, Triq in-Naxxar, San Gwann for having in his possession food products with elapsed use by date, for not having a traceability system , food products with improper labelling and for exposing food to risk of contamination in April 2012.

·          Garage No. 355, Triq il-Htajriet, Mosta for several structural deficiencies, failing to register garage and delivery vehicle IAH-142 with the Food Safety Commission, having in possession food products which were improperly labelled or which can be identified for traceability purposes, premises was not kept clean and in a good state of repair and condition, failing to implement procedures which are based on the HACCP system, failing to provide a wash hand basin in toilet with cold and hot water and suitable material for the washing and hygienic drying of hands and for failing to provide a sink for the washing of food with an adequate supply of  hot water, and failing to protect food from any risk of contamination in August 2012.

 

6 months

·          Amigo’s, Wilga Street, Paceville, San Giljan for keeping equipment which comes in contact with food in a bad state of hygiene and condition, walls and floor not kept in a good state of repair and condition, premises not kept in a good hygienic condition, toilet not adequately ventilated and food handler not registered with the Food Safety Commission in July 2011.

·          Hawker Reg. No. ABO 463, Pjazza 16 ta’ Settembru, Mosta for not providing a sink and wash hand basin with a supply of cold and hot water, for exposing food to risk of contamination, vehicle ABO 463 was not registered with Food Safety Commission, had packed bakery products with no durability date and for having food products with misleading labelling in January 2012.

·          Hawker at Farmers Market l/o Ta’ Qali, Attard for not providing a wash hand basin with a supply of cold and hot water, for not having a traceability system of food supplier, for obstructing the health authorities from performing their duties in December 2011.

·          Prominent Snack Bar, Triq L-Imdina, Qormi for exposing equipment to risk of contamination, walls and ceiling not kept in a good state of repair and condition, not identifying and implementing HACCP, employed food handler which was not registered with the Food Safety Commission, inadequate artificial lighting and yard of premises was not kept clean and in good condition in April 2012.

·          J n I (Cesula Butcher), No. 57, Triq Fra Diegu, Hamrun for keeping food at inappropriate temperatures,  for not having a traceability system of food suppliers, for preparing Maltese type sausages without authorisation and for exposing food products to risk of contamination in March 2012.

·           Vehicle No. BBJ 809 in Triq L-Inbid, Attard for not having a traceability system, had in possession food products without durability date, food products with elapsed Use by date, other food products without label and vehicle BBJ 809 was not registered with Food Safety Commission in March 2012.

·          S.M. (Marketing Ltd), 85, Triq Dun Loret Callus, Haz-Zebbug for having food products with elapsed Use by date, food products without durability date and without label, for not having a traceability system and premises was not registered with the Food Safety Commission in March 2012.

 

One accused - 3 months/one accused - 6 months

·          J & A 2000, No. 58, Triq Dun Nerik Cordina Perez, Hamrun for removing sealed food products without permission by the Health Authority, for not having a traceability system regarding food products purchased in April 2012.

 

One accused - 1 month/Two accused - 6 months

·          Easy Way Butcher (Easy Way Self Service), Triq L-Ewwel ta’ Mejju, Birkirkara for preparing marinated poultry and meat items without the SPH license, had in possession food products with improper labelling  and for not having a traceability system of food suppliers in January 2012.

 

4 months

·          Hawker Van Number HBH 682 at Qormi Open Market for having food products without label, food products with tampered labelling and for not having a waste receptacle in December 2011.

 

3 months

·          Retail Marketing Ltd, Warehouses, Hard Rock Complex, Wied il-Ghasel, Naxxar for failing to provide pest control measures, walls not kept in a good state of repair and condition, not having adequate artificial lightening facilities, toilet and anteroom not ventilated, exposing food to risk of contamination, food handler not registered with the Food Safety Commission and premises were being kept in unhygienic conditions in November 2011.

·           Piscopo Cash & Carry, Triq L-Erba Mwiezeb, St Paul’s Bay for having in possession on August 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          G.S Superstore, Triq il-Parocca, Naxxar for having in possession on August 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          No.27, Kafe Okay, Pjazza Vittorja, Naxxar for having in possession on August 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          The Store, 5, Dingli Street, Sliema, for having in possession on June 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Simpson, Tourist Street, Bugibba for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Stop & Shop, Tourist Street, Bugibba for having in possession on June 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Quality Store, Parish Priest Magri Street, Mellieha for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Jevon Green Grocer, Triq Gorg Borg Olivier, Mellieha for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          F.V. Enterprises, Triq In-Nahal, Mellieha for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Galea Mini Market, Triq L- Isqof Tumas Gargallo, Gharghur for having in possession on June 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          The Food Shop, Triq Cassarino, Qawra for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          S & L, St Anthony Street, Bugibba for having in possession on June 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Nine Ball Cafe, Triq it-Turisti, Qawra for having in possession on August 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Century Choice, St Edward Street, Qormi for having in possession on June 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning and for not giving required information to the Health Authority.

·          Morning Star Grocery, St Margaret Street, Siggiewi for having in possession on August 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Andre’s Confectionery, Triq il-Belt Valletta, Qormi for having in possession on August 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          St Paul’s Green Grocery, Triq il-Kbira, Qormi for having in possession on August 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          St Mary Self Services, Zebbug for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Guido Vella Ltd, Triq Amleto Spiteri, Qormi for having in possession on June 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Charles Cellar, Triq St Rita, Rabat for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Pick’n Save Detergent Shop, Triq Dun Filippu Calleja, Zebbug for having in possession on August 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Farmer’s Pick, Triq Santu Wistin, Rabat for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Education Bar, Wenzu Mallia Street, Hamrun for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Kylynn Grocery, 26, Gianni Bencini Street, Sliema for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Andrew’s Store, Manuel Dimech Street, Sliema for having in possession on July 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Markers Stationery, 36A, Dingli Street, Sliema for having in possession on June 2011 cigarettes packages that were not bearing the combined pictorial health warning.

·          Country Fresh, Triq Tal-Ballal, San Gwann for having in possession food products without label, not having a traceability system and exposing food to risk of contamination in April 2012.

·          Laham taz-Ziemel, No.28, Main Street, Birkirkara for having food products without label, food products with lapsed durability date and without storage conditions indicated on label,  food handler not registered with  the Food Safety Commission and for not having a traceability system.

·          Water Bowser KBL 878 Pinto Wharf, Floriana for supplying water without being registered with the Food Safety Commission and the water being supplied was being extracted from a borehole which was not registered with the Health Authority in May 2012.

·          Hal-Tmien Butcher, 66, Triq id-Dahla ta’ San Tumas, Zejtun for not identifying the Critical Control Points, had in possession food products without label, meat products without identification mark, food products with missing information on label and without traceability records, food was kept in temperatures which are a risk to health, premises was not registered with Food Safety Commission and operating premises not in accordance to licence and its conditions in July 2012.

·          Cassar Butcher, 109, Triq Santa Marija, Ghaxaq for not identifying the Critical Control Points, wash hand basin of toilet not provided with hot water, anteroom not ventilated, food products with missing information on label, food products with misleading labelling, kept food products not in accordance with the storage conditions indicated on label and not adequate food products traceability in July 2012.

·          Wok to Walk, 134, The Strand, Gzira for not keeping premises, equipment, walls and floor in a good state of hygiene, exposing food to risk of contamination, wash hand basin in preparation area not provided with a supply of hot water and the windows and doors leading to the outside were not provided with adequate insect screens in June 2012.

 

1 month

·          Operator of St Mary Band Club, No. 315, Triq il-Kungress Ewkaristiku, Mosta for failing to register as a food handler with the Food Safety Commission in September 2011.

·          Fifu Bar, Misrah il-Bjar, Zejtun for not having a wash hand basin provided with a supply of hot and cold water, lighting fixtures not shielded, failing to have a HACCP system and anteroom of staff and patrons’ toilet not adequately ventilated back in June 2010.

·          Fish Hawker at Misrah 13 ta’ Dicembru, Zejtun for not providing a wash hand basin and sink with a supply of cold and hot water in July 2011.

·          Ford Van Reg. No. AAM 746 parked in Triq il-Knisja l-Qadima, Birkirkara for exposing food to risk of contamination in February 2012.

·          Zachary House, Industrial Estate, Marsa for giving incorrect declaration to the Health Authority in May 2012.

·          Gejtu Butcher, Triq San Mikiel, Zurrieq for manufacturing prepared meat products without the SPH license in March 2012.

·          Stall No. 36, Toto Butcher, Valletta Market, Merchant Street, Valletta for having in possession poultry products at a temperature of more than -12°C in June 2012.

·          Johnny’s Farmshop, Valletta Market, Merchant Street, Valletta for not having food suppliers traceability system in June 2012.

·          Villa Robinich, Triq il-Kulvert, Fgura for having its water system supplied with second class water and the private water supplier was supplying this type of water without being registered with the Food Safety Commission in July 2012.

·          Mini Market, 56A, Triq L-Imtarfa, Mtarfa for operating premises not in accordance to licence and its conditions in July 2012.

 

Emergency Control Orders

During the last two months, four emergency control orders were issued against operators.

 

Emergency Prohibition Orders

During February and March, three premises were closed down by the Health Authority due to imminent risk to public health, as follows:

·          Meat Point Sunlight Garage, Triq Mastru Salvu Pulis, Qormi;

·          Main Kitchen of Splash & Fun Park, Coast Road, Bahar ic-Caghaq; and

·          Mandes Cafeteria, St Paul Street, Rabat

These were allowed to reopen once remedial action was taken by the food business operators to remove the risk.